2024 Water Project

The Environmental Ministry has partnered with The Diocese of Abakaliki in Nigeria Africa. This is the home diocese of Fr. Joseph Ogazie and it supports a population of 375,000 Catholics. Nigeria has the largest population of people without access to clean water in the world and is not as well served as some other countries due to instabilities caused by poor governance. Our goal this Lent is to raise $17,000 to support two high priority water projects that they would like to undertake.

 Ogbagu-Iyonu is a small, predominantly Catholic village located in the northeastern region of the Ishielu Local Government Area of Ebonyi State in Nigeria and has a population of approximately 4,000 people. The Idodo River is the only source of water available to the residents of Ogbagu-Iyonu. They use it for domestic needs, such as drinking, laundry, and for their livestock. However, the river is also used by wild animals, which poses a risk to the health of the villagers.

Ukwuenyim-Ikwo is a village located on the boundary line with Cross River State. The predominantly Catholic village is estimated to have a population of approximately 3,000. The climate in the region is semi-tropical and receives abundant rainfall, resulting in lush vegetation, thick forests, ponds, and small pools during the rainy season. However, these water sources dry up during the harmattan season, a dry, dust-laden windy season from November to March. The Ikwo River is the primary source of drinking water. Residents in Ukwuenyim-Ikwo are mostly farmers and they depend on the ponds for survival.

Based on local studies, the communities of Ogbagu-Iyonu and Ukwuenyim-Ikwo experience a high incidence of water-borne diseases, which mainly affects children.  A well to provide drinking water in each of these two villages will be a great source of relief for the residents, alleviating their sufferings and bringing them comfort and consolation. It is estimated it will take about two months to complete these projects.