Reckitt Nigeria has wrapped up the 2024 edition of its Access Accelerator Programme, awarding N48 million in seed funding to four health and hygiene-focused startups as it deepens its push for scalable, community-led solutions to Nigeria’s sanitation and reproductive health challenges.
The consumer goods giant awarded N12 million each to Geotek, HealthTracka, MN Environmental Services, and Preggify — social enterprises tackling issues from access to clean water and public toilets, to maternal health and at-home diagnostics.
The firms also received mentorship and business acceleration support through a partnership with Yunus Social Innovation (YSI).
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“Solving the world’s toughest hygiene challenges requires scalable, locally driven innovation,” said Akbar Ali Shah, Reckitt’s general manager for Sub-Saharan Africa, during the programme’s closing ceremony in Lagos. “Millions across Sub-Saharan Africa still lack access to basic sanitation, and we believe health begins in our communities.”
The Access Accelerator Programme, which Reckitt says has reached over 500,000 people to date, is part of the company’s broader social impact agenda. It has earned global recognition, including from the World Economic Forum, and now operates innovation hubs in Nigeria and Indonesia.
“Globally, 1 in 2 people lack access to safe water and sanitation. These are not just statistics, they are lived realities,” said Niklas Lange, programme director at YSI. “We’re proud of what this partnership has accomplished, and excited about what’s ahead.”
For entrepreneurs like Jife Williams, co-founder of MN Environmental Services, the support is a lifeline. “Rising open defecation rates in markets where toilet access is scarce pushed us to build mobile toilets. Reckitt’s support means we can reach more communities faster and with better solutions,” she said.
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Looking ahead, Reckitt plans to merge the accelerator into Reckitt Catalyst, a new platform aimed at supporting 200 underrepresented innovators, especially women, across 15 countries by 2030.
The initiative will provide flexible funding, mentorship, and access to expertise to drive the growth of impact-focused businesses.
With Nigeria still grappling with one of the world’s highest rates of open defecation and inadequate WASH infrastructure, Reckitt’s strategy leans heavily on local solutions to drive measurable change.
