A solar-powered borehole provided by a serving corps member has been completed and commissioned in Kulende, Ilorin South Local Government Area of Kwara State.
The project was undertaken by Okereke Chinenye Iheanyi (KW/25C/0867), a 2025 Batch C corps member serving at the University of Ilorin. It was officially commissioned on Thursday, October 22, 2026.
Access to safe water has been a longstanding challenge for Kulende residents, many of whom relied on wells that were unclean and often became unusable during the dry season. The limited number of private boreholes offered little relief, as unstable electricity supply affected access to water from these sources. Consequently, residents remained at risk of waterborne illnesses. The community Chairman identified children, older residents and mothers as those who suffered most from the situation. Addressing the gathering at the commissioning, he said, “Today, that story changes.”
He described the intervention as the result of the initiative and persistence of a young corps member who was moved by the difficulties facing the community. According to the Chairman, Okereke took up the matter during his service year, approached the NYSC and NaijaSolve through a formal request and obtained the funding needed to carry out the project. He also acknowledged the corps member’s dedication throughout the process, adding that his character, concentration and determination had made him highly regarded among community members.
In his response, Okereke Chinenye Iheanyi highlighted the importance of making clean water accessible to everyone, saying, “Access to clean water is a right, not a privilege. I am grateful to NaijaSolve, the NYSC, and the people of Kulende for making this possible.”
NaijaSolve, an NGO involved in supporting community development initiatives across Nigeria, provided backing for the project. Following its completion, Kulende residents acknowledged the organisation’s contribution, describing the provision of clean water as a source of renewed hope for the community.
On the choice of location, the Chairman said the community participated in deciding where the borehole would be situated. He explained that the selected spot occupies the highest point of the water source and was also considered appropriate for safeguarding the facility against theft and vandalism. This, he said, would help preserve the borehole for the benefit of children and generations yet to come. He called on residents to protect the facility by avoiding misuse, maintaining the area around it and alerting the relevant people to any attempt to damage or interfere with it. He reminded them that “this borehole belongs to all of us.”
Mrs. Obayelu, who represented the NYSC Kwara State Coordinator, performed the commissioning and praised the corps member for identifying the community’s water needs and working towards addressing them.
The occasion also attracted the NYSC Ilorin South Local Government Inspector, members of the community’s leadership, residents, religious leaders, professors, other NYSC personnel and corps members.
Through this intervention, the corps member has demonstrated how young people can contribute to their communities by recognising existing challenges and taking steps to address them.
NASTV Africa celebrates this remarkable impact of Community Development Service (CDS) and its contribution to community development.
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