How Fairaction Nigeria Is Leading The Fight For Sustainable Access To Clean And Safe Water

Clean water is a basic need everyone relies on for everyday survival. Yet in Nigeria, approximately 179 million people lack access to safely managed drinking water services while about 70,000 children under five die annually from diarrhea-related diseases linked to unsafe drinking water. This crisis affects health, education, economic productivity, and countless other facets of human living.

For this edition of The Radar, our series spotlighting groundbreaking projects across industries shaping today’s world, we feature Fairaction Nigeria, an organization leveraging over eight years of research and community-driven innovation to deliver clean, safe, and sustainable water to underserved communities across the country.  In this exclusive conversation with Tosin Kayode, General Manager at Fairaction Nigeria, he discusses the systems, technology, and long-term strategies being implemented to redefine sustainable development in Nigeria’s WaSH sector.

What inspired the creation of Fairaction, and what’s your core message?

Fairaction was inspired by a personal memory that never left our founder, Samuel Adeoti. Growing up in a rural community, he made long, exhausting walks every morning to fetch water that was never truly safe. He saw classmates fall sick, mothers lose entire mornings to water collection, and families trapped in a cycle of poverty simply because they lacked one basic resource. That experience became the foundation of Fairaction. Our core message is simple: clean, safe water should never depend on where you are born. It should be a right, not a privilege.

What areas do you currently serve?

We currently monitor existing water projects in over 1,700 communities in Ekiti, Osun, and Oyo States; while our five installed Smart Water Infrastructure (SWI) systems are serving five underserved communities across Oyo State: Abeku, Isale-Oja, Alabata, Aba Apapa, and Boni Igboho – rural and peri-urban areas where safe water access was previously unreliable, unsafe, or nonexistent.

What specific problem did Fairaction set out to solve in Nigeria’s WaSH sector?

We committed to solving the systemic failure of rural water systems. Too many water projects collapse within a few years due to weak governance, poor maintenance, and lack of data. Fairaction exists to change that by building sustainable, community-governed, digitally monitored water systems that last.

For someone hearing about Fairaction for the first time, how would you describe what the organisation does?

In the simplest terms: we bring clean and safe water to underserved communities, and make sure the systems keep working.

What are some key projects or initiatives Fairaction has carried out so far?

We’ve installed solar-powered Smart Water Infrastructure (SWI) across five project sites, introduced preventive maintenance schedules, strengthened Water User Committees (WUC) and Kiosk Attendants (KA), deployed our digital monitoring tool – the Target 6.1 Map, Flow Automation, Automatic Shutoff Devices (ASD), and Internet of Things (IoT) enabled Smart Meters. These include launching a major public education initiative, the Safe Water, Save Lives Campaign at the University of Ibadan.

Fairaction is known as a research-driven organization. What systems and tools inform your approach?

We carry out various  research  to identify communities suffering from water poverty and the interrelated challenges they face, enabling the creation of solutions tailored to their specific needs. These include hydrogeological surveys, socioeconomic assessments, governance capacity reviews, and tariff feasibility studies. Following that, we use a research framework called Predictive Iterative Sustainability Model (PISM) – this model uses predictive analytics to identify the most optimal locations for water infrastructure projects, ensuring that resources are deployed where they will have the greatest impact. After project installation, our digital tools – smart meters and the Target 6.1 Map, allow us to track water flow, revenue, and system performance in real time.

How do you guarantee sustainability after each project cycle?

We focus on four things: Strong community governance through Water User Committees and Kiosk Attendants, Preventive maintenance, not reactive repairs, Digital monitoring for early detection of issues, and Hygiene and behaviour change programmes to reinforce safe practices. 

What challenges have you faced, and how did you navigate them?

Challenges include low water yields, vandalism risks, solar inefficiencies and community distrust caused by past failed projects. We address these through deeper hydrogeological testing, community vigilance, improved solar settings, and consistent transparency that rebuilds trust over time.

Water access intersects with education, gender, and health. How has Fairaction addressed these intersections?

When water becomes accessible, children – especially girls- stop missing school. Women regain hours each week previously spent fetching water. Communities see fewer cases of diarrhea disease. Through governance training, we also ensure women participate actively in managing water systems. Water access becomes a doorway to improved health, equity, and economic stability.

What milestone stands out as defining Fairaction’s growth?

A major turning point was the launch of the Target 6.1 Map, our real-time digital monitoring system. It transformed how we track water flow, detect faults, verify revenue, and support communities. This digital leap marked Fairaction’s shift into data-driven WaSH management and set a new standard for transparency and sustainability.

Can you share a memorable story that highlights your impact?

One of our most unforgettable moments happened in Aba Apapa, a community where, for generations, people climbed steep hills every day to fetch unsafe stream water. When our system began delivering clean water for the first time in the community’s history, the reactions were overwhelming. Women overjoyed as they filled their containers – many said they had never tasted water this clean. A community leader told us, “Fairaction has solved 90% of our problems.” Children arrived at school earlier, illnesses dropped almost immediately, and the entire community described it as “a new life.” That moment reminded us why we exist: to replace struggle with dignity, and uncertainty with hope.

How do you measure success?

Success is when systems remain functional, water flows consistently, and communities rely on the kiosks every day. We measure reliability, governance performance, hygiene adoption, technical uptime, and reductions in dependence on unsafe sources. Sustainability, not installation, is our benchmark.

How do you ensure communities feel ownership, not charity?

Communities participate from the very beginning – site selection, governance formation, tariff setting, and maintenance planning. Water User Committees are entirely community-led, and they nominate their preferred Kiosk Attendants. Our message is clear: this system belongs to you, and we are your partners, not donors handing out charity.

What is one major lesson you’ve learned on this journey?

Start with the people, not the technology. Communities know their struggles and aspirations better than anyone. Lasting solutions come from listening first and designing with, and not for them.

What more should we expect from Fairaction?

In 2026 and beyond, expect stronger water quality assurance, deeper digital innovation, expanded youth-focused advocacy, and careful, evidence-driven expansion to new communities. We’re building a blueprint for sustainable rural water systems across Nigeria.

How can individuals, organisations, or governments support Fairaction’s mission?

They can support by partnering with us on community projects, sponsoring maintenance or research programmes, amplifying our advocacy work, joining our volunteer network, or helping integrate sustainable water systems into local development plans. Clean water is a shared responsibility, and collaboration is essential.

The Radar is a Moveee series bringing you fresh stories across industries on notable culture projects shaping today’s world. Do you have a project you would love to spotlight? Get in touch with us today.