Residents of Awuja Community in Bende Local Government Area of Abia State have expressed relief as the Rotary Club of Umuahia commenced the construction of a solar-powered borehole to address the area’s long-standing water challenges.

The project was flagged off by the District Governor of Rotary International District 9142, Kelechi Anyanwu, and is expected to provide safe drinking water to the rural community, whose residents have relied for years on a distant hillside stream.

During the event, Anyanwu also inaugurated a Rotary Community Corps to strengthen grassroots participation in development efforts. He explained that the corps would enable residents to collaborate with Rotary in managing and sustaining projects within the community.

“The Rotary Community Corps is a volunteer group made up of local residents who partner Rotary clubs to implement, manage and sustain community development projects,” he said, noting that it promotes local ownership and long-term sustainability.

He further assured residents that Rotary would carry out routine monitoring of the facility upon completion to ensure its continued effectiveness.

Speaking earlier, the Chairman of the Service Project Committee and Past District Governor, Grace Okaro, traced the club’s relationship with Awuja to 2014, when the community was identified during an End Polio Now campaign. She noted that the club has since maintained consistent engagement, delivering various interventions over the years.

Also speaking, the Club President, Ifeoma Obonna, described the project as the fulfilment of a promise made to the community, emphasising that access to clean water is vital for health and development.

The Vice President, Sylvester Ibeleme, described the initiative as the beginning of a long-awaited transformation, while traditional ruler Eze Johnson Agwu highlighted similar Rotary interventions that improved community health outcomes elsewhere.

The contractor handling the project, Francis Ukandu, revealed that geophysical surveys have already been completed to identify the most suitable drilling location. He said drilling would reach a depth of between 360 and 400 feet to access a sustainable water source.

According to him, the project will include an overhead tank powered by a two-horsepower solar system, capable of delivering clean and potable water to residents, with completion expected within one month after drilling begins.

Community leader Luke Kalu expressed gratitude to Rotary, describing the intervention as historic, while Mrs. Victoria Oti, speaking on behalf of the women, pledged that residents would protect and maintain the facility.

The initiative marks a significant step toward improving living conditions and public health in the rural community.