Highland MFB partners NAMB, Water.org to launch WASH loan
From left: Managing Director, Highland Microfinance Bank, Mr Benjamin Mapac; an official of Plateau State Municipal Water Supply & Sanitation Agency (PLAMWASSA), Mrs. Kangyang Timothy; Executive Secretary/CEO, National Association of Microfinance Banks (NAMB), Mr. Eddy Orok; Chairman Board of Directors Highland MfB, Sen. Davou D. Zang; and Board Member Highland MfB, Mrs. Mary Y. Dung; during the launch of d MfB's WASH Loan in Jos
Orisemeke Benjamin
Joining a few hygiene-promoting micro lenders in their collaborative steps to provide funds to needy Nigerians for improved water, sanitation and hygiene access, Highland Microfinance Bank has launched its new product – the High Hygiene WASH Loan.
The Hygiene WASH facility was the result of the MfB’s strategic partnership with Water.org, a leading civil advocacy group committed to improved water access globally, and the National Association of Microfinance Banks (NAMB), the umbrella body of all MFBs in Nigeria.
Speaking during the product launch in Jos, Plateau state capital recently, the Managing Director of Highland Microfinance Bank Plc, Benjamin Luka Mapac, said the launching of the loan facility was the beginning of a new chapter in how Highland MFB would protect health, uphold human dignity, and make water and hygiene accessible to more people and communities.
Recalling that for years, the MfB’s management has listened to, observed, and experienced firsthand the challenges that many households and businesses face when it comes to maintaining consistent, reliable hygiene standards, the banker said WASH facility was a solution designed with purpose, built on research, and refined with the input of people who understand hygiene challenges at the community level and the institutional level alike
Mapac explained that the purpose of the loan was for the acquisition of toilets and sanitation facilities, to build new or upgrade existing toilet structures and provision of portable drinking water to millions of Nigerians lacking access to clean water.
He said: “The loan attracts low interest rates at 3% per month which is quite attractive and the tenures for repayment can stretch from 6-12 months depending on the loan size.
“Today, as we unveil the High-Hygiene WASH Loan, we are also celebrating the power of collaboration. Our partnership with Water.org has opened doors for us to understand water-access realities on a deeper level.
“Working with the National Association of Microfinance Bank has strengthened our community engagement and helped us shape solutions that meet real needs”, the banker added.
He explained to the MfB’s customers that High-Hygiene WASH Loan remained the micro lender’s commitment to them and represented the management’s promise to provide reliable, high-standard hygiene solutions that protect their families, businesses, and communities.
Mapac assured: “As we move forward, our message is simple: Hygiene is not optional. Hygiene is essential. And with the High-Hygiene WASH Loan, we are making essential care more accessible, more affordable, and more effective than ever before to millions of ordinary Nigerians nationwide.”
In his remarks at the event, the Executive Secretary of NAMB, Mr. Eddy Orok, noted that the collaboration with Water.org had promoted the implementation of SDG 6 in Nigeria through participating Microfinance Banks.
He explained that NAMB intended to grow this partnership and improve access to clean, safe and affordable water and sanitation for Nigerian communities and commended the management of Highland Microfinance Bank for powering the new product.
Commenting on the Highland MfB’s facility and his organization’s partnership with the micro lender on the initiative, Senior Relationship Account Manager at Water.Org, Mr. Gilbert Okpono, said: “This product captioned High-Hygiene gives families the power to access clean water and safe sanitation, transforming lives with dignity and hope. Together, we’re creating a future where every home enjoys health, safety, and opportunity.”
