The University of Uyo Microfinance Bank has unveiled a loan facility, WashLoan, to improve water, sanitation, and hygiene for residents in the university community and its immediate environs.

The managing director of the MFB, Millicent Idiong, said in a statement on Thursday that the initiative aimed to enhance residents’ access to safe water.

According to her, the unveiling of the loan facility by the MFB, in partnership with Water.org, a leading civil advocacy group committed to improved water access globally, was held at the university in Uyo, Akwa Ibom.

She said the initiative was in collaboration with the National Association of Microfinance Banks, the umbrella body of all MFBs in Nigeria.

She explained that through the Washloan initiative, Uniuyo MFB is clearly stating that no family should struggle for safe water, no child should learn in an unsafe environment, and no community should be left behind because of a lack of sanitation.

Ms Idiong thanked Water.org and NAMB for partnering with the bank to expand access to safe water and sanitation in the tertiary institution.

She explained that the partnership aligned with Uniuyo MFB’s mission as a development-focused financial institution, to use finance as a tool for transformation, not just profit.

The national president of NAMB, Abubakar Ahmad, noted the initiative’s enormous benefits to millions of people at the university and its environs.

Mr Ahmad described the WashLoan product launch as a testament to the spirit of collaboration in improving hygiene and health for our teeming clients and communities.

He maintained that NAMB was “seeking more partnerships to deliver more sustainable, life-impacting practices to its customers and communities”.

(NAN)