In its commitment to providing clean water and advancing universal access to safe, affordable water and sanitation in line with Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 6, the Rotary Club of Hill-Top Calabar, in partnership with the Green-August Humanitarian Foundation, has installed, commissioned, and formally handed over a solar-powered borehole with overhead tanks to residents of the Nigeria Police Barracks, Akim, and the neighbouring Otop-Abasi community.
Speaking at the commissioning ceremony held recently at the Akim Police Barracks, the 40th President of the Rotary Club of Hill-Top Calabar, Rtn. Chidinma Martin, emphasized that the project reflects Rotary’s enduring commitment to community service and collaborative initiatives aimed at addressing critical water challenges faced by the beneficiary communities.
While reaffirming the club’s dedication to supporting pressing community needs and enhancing social welfare, she expressed appreciation to the Green-August Humanitarian Foundation and the Nigeria Police, noting that the project is a clear reminder that humanity thrives through collaboration.
Earlier, in his welcome address, the Service Project Chairman of the Rotary Club of Hill-Top Calabar, Rtn. Dr. Nicholas Dan, disclosed that the project, which comprises a high-capacity solar-powered borehole fitted with overhead tanks and reticulated to both the Akim Police Barracks and the neighbouring Otop-Abasi community- was conceived following a needs assessment conducted in the previous Rotary year. The assessment revealed severe water scarcity and limited access to potable water within the barracks and surrounding communities.
Dr. Dan added that the project was completed in November 2025, barely three months after commencement, and expressed deep appreciation to the partnering organization, the Green-August Humanitarian Foundation, as well as the beneficiary communities for their cooperation throughout the project period.
In her remarks, the Founder of the Green-August Humanitarian Foundation, Dr. Ijeoma Iloeje, described the partnership as “compassion in action,” noting that the foundation is committed to improving the quality of life in underserved communities.
She explained that her academic background as a trained sociologist, from undergraduate to postgraduate levels, focused on proffering solutions to human needs and alleviating suffering. “When Rotary outlined this project, my organization saw an opportunity to partner and address a critical need in this community. Today’s commissioning and handover stand as a testament to what collaboration can achieve,” she stated.
Commissioning the project, the Commissioner of Police, Cross River State Command, CP Rashid Afegua, represented by a senior police officer, Musa Mohammed, described the initiative as a significant milestone in the history of the command. He noted that the facility would greatly alleviate the prolonged water scarcity experienced by residents and positively impact the welfare and service delivery of officers and men of the command.
Assuring the partners of the proper use and maintenance of the facility, the Commissioner’s representative commended the Rotary Club of Hill-Top Calabar and the Green-August Humanitarian Foundation for what he described as a rare and commendable gesture.
In separate goodwill messages, representatives of the Police Community Relations Committee (PCRC), Otop-Abasi Police Barracks, Police Clinic, Akim Division, and the Metro Area Command lauded the donors for their generosity and called on other well-meaning Nigerians and public-spirited individuals to emulate the initiative.
