Tijani Olasunkanmi (left); Adeniran Ogunbawo; Hon. Aliyu Matthew; Agharese Onaghise; Osen Iyahen; Mayor Ameen Apanishile; Oreofe Ekundayo; Joy Dawaki; Gbola Sobande; Oyedele James; Rahaman Fagbolade at the commissioning ceremony in Lagos.
Optimal Greening has commissioned the Sustainable Water Initiative for Future Transformation (Project SWIFT) in Isiwu and Eginrin Ekun communities of Ikorodu North LCDA, Lagos State, as part of efforts to improve access to clean water and sanitation in underserved communities.
The commissioning marked the expansion of a community-led Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) model first piloted in Agala, a low-income community in Lagos State. The pilot project earned Optimal Greening the Sanitation Innovation Award from the Lagos State Ministry of Environment and Water Resources during the 2023 World Toilet Day celebration.
According to the organisation, the SWIFT project was designed to provide sustainable and safe water access while strengthening community ownership and participation in WASH management.
Optimal Greening said the intervention was implemented in partnership with the Lagos State Ministry of Environment and Water Resources and Ikorodu local council authorities after a needs assessment revealed that over 88 per cent of residents in the beneficiary communities depended on unsafe water sources.
The organisation noted that the situation exposed residents, especially women and children, to waterborne diseases and other socio-economic challenges.
“Project SWIFT is a continuation of our commitment to environmental sustainability and a step forward in how we design, deliver, and sustain WASH solutions for communities that have long been left behind,” Osen Iyahen, the organisation’s Founder and CEO stated.
Originally funded by USAID through the Lagos Urban Water Sanitation and Hygiene (LUWASH) Activity, the project experienced a six-month delay following the withdrawal of USAID support in early 2025.
However, Optimal Greening said it secured additional funding to complete the project through the support of the Grundfos Foundation (PDJF), which served as the primary sponsor under its Community Engagement Grant initiative. The Vitol Foundation also provided early support, while technical partners included Hydrogenesis, Nextworks, and Naston Engineering.
The project provides potable water through industrial boreholes, solar-powered water treatment systems, and smart water dispensing technologies aimed at reducing waste and improving efficiency.
Optimal Greening explained that beyond infrastructure, the project focused on sustainability through community capacity building and governance structures.
According to the organisation, Project SWIFT currently delivers at least 30,000 litres of potable water daily, benefiting over 9,000 direct and 13,000 indirect beneficiaries across the two communities.
More than 100 members of Community Development Associations, WASH Committees, and Facility Management Teams also received training in governance, financial management, accountability, asset management, and community ownership.
The organisation added that the initiative prioritised gender inclusion, with women accounting for 40 per cent of participants in leadership and decision-making structures.
It said the project has already improved access to clean water for more than 2,000 households in Ikorodu North, reducing the burden on residents who previously spent time and resources fetching water from unsafe sources.
The organisation noted that stronger governance systems established within the communities would help ensure long-term sustainability and reduce the risk of waterborne diseases.
It, however, stressed that sustaining WASH infrastructure remains a major challenge, calling for continued support from local and state governments through technical assistance, policy backing, and oversight.
“Community groups can do a lot, but they cannot do everything on their own. For WASH projects like SWIFT to remain functional, government must continue to play a vital role,” Gbola Sobande, Chairman of the organisation’s Board of Trustees stated.
Optimal Greening described Project SWIFT as evidence that locally developed and community tested WASH models can be scaled successfully to larger communities.
The organisation expressed appreciation to its sponsors, partners, technical teams, community leaders, and residents of Isiwu and Eginrin Ekun for their collaboration and support throughout the implementation process.
