Waterboy, a cleantech startup that started out as a small idea during the 2019 Stanbic IBTC Lagos Founder Institute acceleration programme has taken the bull by the horn to tackle $5.76 million annual clean water growing in the Nigeria market.
The cleantech startup recently got attention and audience from the Queen’s University and Dunin-Deshpande Queen’s Innovation Centre (DDQIC) team through the Explore and Ignite entrepreneurship programmes and has been admitted into the launch entrepreneurship stage.
According to Waterboy Co-Founder/Chief Executive Officer Oluwasegun Oluwaleti; a Jim Leech MasterCard Foundation fellow said beyond the shore of Nigeria, clean water is seen as a global issue that needs collective solutions.
Oluwaleti said: “In a country surrounded by vast water resources, it is pathetic to see Nigerians scramble and search for clean water. Where available, it comes at a price not pocket friendly considering the economic situation and hardship of the Nigerian populace. This makes access to clean water a luxury rather than a commodity. To this end, the Waterboy co-founders explored ways to make clean water easily accessible and affordable within the reach of Nigerians.
“At the launch stage, Waterboy team will join other 60 ambitious individuals across Africa who will be part of the inaugural Jim Leech MasterCard Foundation Fellowship on entrepreneurship program and will have access to QICSI/Built2Scale On Q course where they will find weekly seminars to gain hands-on skills and continuous support and mentorship from DDQIC’s diverse network.”
Waterboy Co-founder/Chief Technology Officer, King David Ehindero, a recent engineering graduate from the University of Ilorin added that “Waterboy will make the most of this opportunity, work hard, learn something new, have fun and eventually launch officially by 1st October 2021.
Oluwaseye Oluwaleti, a recent dental medical graduate of the University of Lagos and Waterboy Co-Founder/Chief Operating Officer also stated that the company was exploring various Nigerian states to scale after the product launch in Lagos.
“Our choice of Lagos as launch state is strategic. We intend to showcase scalable and cost-effective solutions and contribute our humble quota to bridge Lagos state 320 million gallons water deficit.”
“Waterboy team is passionate about clean water and looking forward to partnering with state, NGOs and other partners and volunteers in making clean water easily accessible and affordable to Nigerians.”
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