For millions of Nigerians, access to clean water and safe sanitation is still a daily struggle, with far-reaching consequences for health, livelihoods, and overall well-being.
To address this urgent challenge and strengthen the systems delivering WASH solutions, Sterling Bank, in partnership with nonprofit Water.org and Sterling One Foundation, has launched the Sterling WASH Business Loan, a catalytic financing solution that empowers WASH businesses and service providers to scale sustainable access to safe water and sanitation across Nigeria.
The launch, which took place on Monday, 24th November 2025, at The Wheatbaker Hotel, Ikoyi, Lagos, signals a shared commitment to solving one of Nigeria’s most pressing development challenges—access to safe water and basic sanitation.
Abubakar Suleiman, Managing Director, Sterling Bank, highlighted the initiative’s role in fostering inclusive development, saying, “Sustainable development depends on
collaboration and targeted investment in the people and businesses delivering solutions on the ground.
By providing accessible financing to entrepreneurs in such a critical social sector, we ensure that progress reaches communities that need it most.
This product aligns with our HEART strategy and our commitment to improving quality of life through impact-driven initiatives.”
Gilbert Okpono, Nigeria Senior Partnership Account Manager at Water.org, emphasised the transformative potential of financing WASH businesses, adding that, “Financial inclusion is critical to solving the global water and sanitation crisis.
By expanding access to affordable financing, we enable households and WASH entrepreneurs to improve services, reach more communities, and transform lives. Our partnership with Sterling Bank and Sterling One Foundation reflects a shared belief that when communities have the means to secure safewater and sanitation, the benefits ripple across health, education, and economic opportunity. This launch is a major step toward scaling that impact sustainably.
The Sterling WASH Business Loan is designed to support WASH entrepreneurs, small business owners, and community service providers with flexible financing to expand and sustain their impact, enabling improved health, livelihoods, and educational outcomes across communities.
The initiative aligns closely with Sterling One Foundation’s mission to drive social impact and sustainable development across Africa. Olapeju Ibekwe, CEO of Sterling One Foundation, affirmed that, “Our Foundation’s mission is to catalyse initiatives that deliver real, lasting change. Access to safe water and sanitation is one of the most powerful investments in community well-being.
Through this launch, we are opening doors for entrepreneurs, families, and communities to build healthier futures. We are proud to partner with Water.org and Sterling Bank to deliver solutions that are inclusive, scalable, and sustainable.”
The launch event brought together development partners, WASH entrepreneurs, media, policymakers, and community organisations to explore how coordinated financing,bsupportive policies, and market-driven solutions can close Nigeria’s WASH access gap. Interested beneficiaries are encouraged to visit www… to learn more about the initiative.
About Water.org
Water.org, is a global nonprofit organization dedicated to bringing safe water and sanitation.to communities in need. Through innovative financing solutions and partnerships, it empowers.households and entrepreneurs to access sustainable WASH services, improving health,.education, and economic opportunities worldwide. For more information visit https://water.org/
About Sterling Bank Limited
Sterling Bank is a full-service national commercial bank in Nigeria and a member of Sterling Financial Holdings Group. With a heritage of more than 60 years, the bank has evolved from Nigeria’s pre-eminent investment banking institution to a trusted provider of retail, commercial, and corporate banking services.
Sterling is a forward-thinking financial institution committed to transforming lives through innovative solutions, exceptional service, unwavering integrity, and a steadfast focus on its HEART strategy, which centers on Health, Education, Agriculture, Renewable Energy, and Transportation. As pioneers in digital banking and financial inclusion, Sterling continues to lead by example, showing how purpose-driven leadership can deliver transformative outcomes for individuals, businesses, and society at large.
Guided by a culture of innovation and a passion for excellence, Sterling Bank remains dedicated to redefining the banking experience for millions of customers across Nigeria. For.more information visit https://sterling.ng/
About Sterling One Foundation (SOF)
Sterling One Foundation is a registered non-profit focused on tackling the root causes of poverty in Nigeria, and Africa through interventions and social impact programmes across three critical sectors namely: health, education and climate action & food security. Gender
Equality and women empowerment are integrated as a cross-cutting priority across all our programming areas. The Foundation’s programmes adopt a central theme of prioritizing partnerships for the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
