800,000 Set to Benefit as Dettol, Wellbeing Foundation Flags-off Hygiene Quest Phase 3

Dettol Nigeria and the Wellbeing Foundation Africa (WBFA) have officially launched Phase 3 of their Dettol Hygiene Quest initiative in Lagos. This phase aims to extend hygiene education and practices to more than 800,000 students and mothers across Nigeria by 2026.

The launch event at Eko Akete Junior Secondary School featured interactive handwashing demonstrations and hygiene education sessions for students. Participants also received Dettol antibacterial soaps and learning materials designed to foster healthy habits at home and school.

The Clean Naija Initiative, which underpins the Dettol Hygiene Quest, has set ambitious goals: reaching 6 million schoolchildren by 2030, increasing handwashing rates by 20 percent, reducing diarrhea cases by 10 percent, and lowering school absenteeism linked to hygiene-related illnesses by 10 percent.

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when children learn healthy habits early, those habits create lasting impact far beyond the classroom.

Toluwase Abikoye, Brand Manager for Dettol, highlighted the long-term impact of early hygiene education. She cited a third-party evaluation of Phase 2, which reported notable decreases in communicable disease symptoms among students: 9.3 percent in Abuja, 12.3 percent in Lagos, and 15.7 percent in Kwara. Correspondingly, school absenteeism due to illness also declined.

Dr. Osinachi Onyeoziri, representing WBFA President Princess Toyin Ojora Saraki, emphasized the critical link between children's health and their future development. She stated that healthy children learn better, thrive more, and build stronger futures, aligning with the Foundation's ongoing work in health, education, and hygiene for children, women, and families. Since its inception, the initiative has benefited over 440,000 individuals in 716 schools, 36 healthcare facilities, and 456 communities, promoting lifelong healthy habits.

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the future of Nigeria depends on children and their ability to grow into responsible leaders, but that staying healthy matters for that to happen. Healthy children learn better, thrive better, and build stronger futures, which continues to guide the Foundation’s work on health, education, and hygiene outcomes for children, women, and families.