In a move to embed lifelong hygiene habits, the Wellbeing Foundation Africa (WBFA) and Reckitt Nigeria, makers of Dettol, have inducted 40 students as “Hygiene Quest Ambassadors” across 20 schools in the Bwari Area Council.
The Abuja State Programme Lead for WBFA, Mr. Kelvin Agagbe, while speaking at the event, said the program was designed to empower students.
Agagbe explained that the initiative, which is part of the Dettol Hygiene Quest (DHQ) Programme, aims to place the power of health promotion directly in the hands of young people.
He said that it ensures that lessons on Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) transcend the classroom and become a sustainable community practice.
“The Hygiene Quest Ambassadors Programme is a deliberate effort to place the responsibility of WASH sustainability in the hands of the students themselves.
“We believe that when children lead by example and take ownership of hygiene practices within their schools, the change is not only more visible but also more lasting.
“This model ensures that knowledge is not only taught but practised and spread, reducing preventable illnesses and positively influencing families across Bwari,” he said.
Echoing this sentiment, Miss Mary Sunday from the Local Education Agency (LEA) highlighted the critical importance of targeting children at a formative age.
“This programme is reaching students at the grassroots, where the foundation of learning and behaviour is built.
“By teaching hygiene knowledge to children at such a young age, we are shaping habits that will remain with them for life and affect their homes and communities,” she said.
The event also sparked excitement through a spelling bee competition that showcased the students’ talents. LEA Dutse Sokale emerged victorious in the primary school category, while JSS PW won in the secondary category.
Both schools have earned the right to represent Bwari Area Council at the upcoming DHQ Phase 2 State Close-Out in Abuja, with a chance to compete at the national finale in Lagos.
