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Tag: Reckitt

  • Firm awards N48m to hygiene startups

    Firm awards N48m to hygiene startups

    Reckitt, a global leader in health, hygiene, and nutrition, hosted the closing ceremony of the 2024 edition of the Reckitt Access Accelerator Programme in Lagos. The event marked a significant milestone in Reckitt’s mission to tackle critical Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) and Sexual and Reproductive Health (S.R.H) challenges in Nigeria through collaboration and innovation.

    This year’s programme supported four social enterprises—Geotek, HealthTracka, MN Environmental Services, and Preggify—each receiving N12 million in seed funding to scale their health and hygiene solutions. Their innovations range from access to clean water, at-home health tests, provision of public toilet facilities, and maternal care, aimed at promoting hygiene practices in communities across Nigeria.

    In addition to the seed funding, the beneficiaries received mentorship from Reckitt’s people, as well as impact-accelerating bootcamps, delivered by Yunus Social Innovation (YSI), tailored to unlock specific barriers to business growth.

    Speaking at the event, Akbar Ali Shah, General Manager, Reckitt Sub-Saharan Africa, reaffirmed the company’s mission and long-term commitment to locally driven innovation: “At Reckitt, we take pride in offering products that are simple, safe, and effective; products that improve lives in meaningful, measurable ways. We, however, also recognise that the true impact goes beyond product delivery.

    Solving the world’s toughest hygiene challenges, especially in underserved communities, requires scalable, locally driven innovation. Reports show that millions of people across Sub-Saharan Africa still lack access to basic hygiene and sanitation services, and we believe that health begins at home and in our communities, which is why we support local entrepreneurs who have the knowledge, familiarity, and support of the communities they serve. Because entrepreneurs drive economic growth, job creation and social impact.

    Speaking on the programme’s global vision, Niklas Lange of YSI, Reckitt’s partners, also paid tribute to the power of local action and collaborative impact, “Globally, 1 in 2 people still lack access to safe water and sanitation. These are not abstract statistics; they represent real mothers, fathers, and children. The Access Accelerator has already reached over five hundred thousand people, earned global recognition from the World Economic Forum, and built innovation centers in Nigeria and Indonesia. Huge thanks to Reckitt for their commitment to these issues and I look forward to us doing even more.”

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    One of the beneficiaries of the 2024 Access Accelerator Programme, Mrs. Jife Williams, Co-Founder, MN Environmental Services, expressed her appreciation and stressed the importance of the initiative, saying, “Our work is driven by concern for public health.

     Every day, we see the reality, rising rates of open defecation, especially at markets where toilet facilities are near inaccessible. That’s why we started building mobile toilets to serve these communities. Getting support from Reckitt means we can now reach more people, respond faster, and build better systems. We are thankful for this chance, and we hope more organisations will step in and support ideas that improve basic hygiene. Everyone deserves access to clean and safe sanitation.”

    Looking ahead, the Access Accelerator programme will merge under the recently launched Reckitt Catalyst. This new initiative will build on the organisation’s ongoing work to accelerate social impact projects around the world. Together with its expert partners, they will provide flexible funding, mentoring and expertise to allow innovative businesses to scale rapidly and solve essential hygiene and healthcare challenges. Their goal is to support up to 200 women and underrepresented social innovators by 2030, in more than 15 countries, including Nigeria and Kenya.

  • Reckitt unveils 12-hour germ-free Dettol soap

    Reckitt unveils 12-hour germ-free Dettol soap

    Reckitt Nigeria has announced an upgrade to its iconic Dettol Original Antibacterial Bar Soap.

    The new soap promises up to 12 hours of protection. It supports the skin’s natural defences against germs.

    The new claim, unveiled as part of the brand’s ongoing commitment to public health and hygiene, positions Dettol Original as not just a germ-fighting product but one that works with the skin, enhancing its natural barrier throughout the day.

    Marketing Director, Reckitt Sub-Saharan Africa, Tanzim Rezwan said that, “At Reckitt, we recognise that modern life brings new challenges to maintaining hygiene.

    This is why we are informing our consumers that Dettol Original, when used regularly, provides a 12-hour protective shield against germs by supporting their skin’s natural germ fighters.

    Nigerians can now have the confidence to engage fully in their daily routines without compromising on hygiene.”

    Echoing this, Senior Brand Manager, Dettol, Nonye Opara, noted that the innovation addresses the constant exposure to germs during busy daily routines, from school runs to office hours.

    Read Also: Reckitt, WBFA battle neonatal jaundice through Project Oscar

    “Dettol Original works with the skin’s natural defences to give families peace of mind,” she said.

    “It helps Nigerians go about their day knowing their hygiene routines are actively supporting their skin’s protection.”

    The revamped soap formulation is part of a broader campaign aimed at promoting effective hygiene habits and empowering individuals to lead healthier lives.

  • Reckitt restates commitment to building healthier communities

    Reckitt restates commitment to building healthier communities

    Health, hygiene, and nutrition firm, Reckitt, has restated its commitment to providing hygiene solutions to households. It made this resolve at the 44th anniversary celebration of its Agbara factory in Ogun State.

    Global Chief Executive Officer, Kris Licht, praised the Agbara team for its hard work. He said:  “Today makes me proud of Reckitt. I am pleased to see how well our team is doing. I see high-quality products being made, which helps us not only do good business, but also do good things in the community.”

    The event was attended by Deputy Governor, Noimot Salako-Oyedele, representing Governor Dapo Abiodun, among others.

    Abiodun,  said “I am proud to have Reckitt as a partner in our journey towards development and prosperity. Its presence has created jobs, fostered innovation, and contributed to well-being of residents…”

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    He emphasised the state’s confidence in the partnership’s future, noting: “The future holds potential, and by working closely, we can build a brighter future.”

     The event marked inauguration of the Jik Sachet line by Salako-Oyedele .

    Licht shared his experience visiting a public school where Reckitt’s hygiene Quest programme is implemented, witnessing firsthand the positive impact of dettol in teaching children to stay safe and maintain good hygiene. “That’s what we do, what we care about, and we are going to think about how to do that for the long haul,” he affirmed.

    Reckitt reaffirms its commitment to building healthier communities and contributing to a cleaner and healthier world through innovation, investments, and community partnerships focused on hygiene education, access to clean water, and responsible manufacturing practice.

  • Six businesses champion Reckitt’s ‘Fight for Access Accelerator’ programme

    Six businesses champion Reckitt’s ‘Fight for Access Accelerator’ programme

    The Reckitt Fight for Access Accelerator has introduced a cohort of six social businesses poised to make a lasting impact.

    They are Let’s Build for Humanity, Onyeisi Care Foundation, Alora Reusable Pads, Toiletpride, SOSO Care as well as Kiddies and Brands.

    After a rigorous selection, which saw over 200 applications, these  businesses will get access to two boot camps with over 30+ hours of skill-based volunteering, 36+ hours dedicated to support them, and nine Reckitt mentors.

    The entrepreneurs and their   solutions are: Let’s Build for Humanity – Restrom founder and UN Sustainable Development Solutions fellow, Michael Ojo, teaches young Nigerians about effective hygiene.

    Let’s Build for Humanity goes beyond the conventional approach of constructing toilets; they create opportunities.

    “This model involves crafting high-quality mobile toilets and selling them to micro-entrepreneurs. These entrepreneurs then install sanitation units in private homes, schools, and residential compounds. The collected waste undergoes a transformation at a specialised facility, turning it into organic fertiliser and livestock feed,” the company said.

    The Foundation, founded by Kenneth Ogbodo,  is focused on installing solar-powered boreholes and toilet facilities in schools.

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    Onyeisi Care Foundation is also developing a monitoring app to maintain their commitment to the target of 500 installations across Nigeria by 2030.

    Next is the Alora Reusable Pads, founded by Sarah Kuponyi, the Alora Reusable Pads.

    Founded by Sarah Kuponyi, the Alora Reusable Pads strives to solve “period poverty” by producing and selling eco-friendly reusable menstrual hygiene products that offer an affordable and environmentally friendly alternative to disposable napkins.

    Toiletpride addresses Nigeria’s sanitation challenges by tackling open defecation, affecting 48 million people as per a 2021 WASH report. Their strategy involves resolving two primary issues: the lack of access to toilets and a low demand for their construction.

    SOSO Care is an insuretech social enterprise on a mission like no other. They’re turning recyclable garbage into a financial lifeline, making micro health insurance accessible to millions of uninsured Nigerians living in underserved areas, including pregnant women and children.

    The way it works is that local community members can collect recyclable waste such as glass and plastic bottles, and drop them off at specific SOSO Care locations. Partner agents then sell the collected waste to recycling companies and turn the earnings into a health fund that covers the modest $1 monthly individual health insurance premium offered by SOSO Care.

    Kiddies and Brands founder, Nneka Osili, says the company is on a mission to transform hand-washing into a vibrant, memorable adventure for primary school students.

    Having written and supplied over 100,000 copies of hand washing and oral hygiene storybooks, the team is committed to pursuing their mission of establishing proper hand-washing techniques to 300 primary schools in the Lagos state of Nigeria.

    ‍The Fight for Access Accelerator is in line with Reckitt’s belief that access to high-quality health, hygiene and nutrition is not a privilege but a universal human right. Reckitt has partnered with Yunus Social Business to catalyse innovative social enterprises that offer solutions in WASH to parts of the world that need it the most.

    Reckitt received a total of 238 applications and filtered 88 applications. 28 interviews were conducted, and 15 organizations, of which 27% are female-led, were shortlisted after the application window. 70 entrepreneurs were contacted directly, and over 50+ sourcing partner services were engaged. It has two boot camps involving 6 social businesses and 3 Reckitt brands so far.