IHS Nigeria powers relief efforts with solar boreholes for Maiduguri flood victims

Feyisayo Ajayi -
Key Points
  • IHS Nigeria installs four solar-powered boreholes to provide clean water for nearly 20,000 flood victims in Maiduguri, combating waterborne diseases.
  • In partnership with UNICEF, IHS Nigeria enhances water, sanitation, and hygiene services in flood-affected communities, prioritizing health for mothers and children.
  • IHS Holding, led by Sam Darwish, has invested over $4 million in humanitarian initiatives, including water access and COVID-19 interventions since 2019.

IHS Nigeria, a subsidiary of IHS Holding, the global telecom infrastructure giant headed by American-Nigerian entrepreneur Sam Darwish, has launched a humanitarian initiative to support Maiduguri’s flood victims, installing four solar-powered boreholes in the region. 

The project aims to provide critical clean water access for nearly 20,000 people impacted by severe flooding across Maiduguri, Jere, and Konduga, where displaced communities are vulnerable to waterborne diseases.

The boreholes, part of IHS Nigeria’s ongoing collaboration with UNICEF, are designed to help prevent waterborne diseases and mitigate health risks for flood-affected residents, particularly pregnant women, children, and malnourished patients visiting local health centers. 

IHS teams up with UNICEF to combat waterborne diseases in Borno

Mohamad Darwish, CEO of IHS Nigeria, stated, “We empathize with the government and people of Borno State and extend our sympathies to those who lost loved ones and property. The boreholes are essential to limit disease outbreaks and improve water, sanitation, and hygiene services as communities recover from flooding.”

Strategically located in temporary settlements and camps for displaced persons, the boreholes will also be installed at schools to facilitate children’s return to education and health centers offering nutritional support to mothers and children.

This initiative reflects IHS’s mission to address essential needs in affected communities, extending the company’s partnership with UNICEF, which has previously benefited over 6,000 individuals and enabled over one million WASH-related treatments across Borno.

Sam Darwish's IHS Holding invests $4 million in UNICEF Partnership

IHS Holding, founded in 2001 by Sam Darwish, operates 40,000 telecom towers across Africa, making it the world’s third-largest independent tower company by tower count. The company recently added 385 tenants, made 1,566 lease amendments, and built 207 new towers, with 136 in Brazil.

IHS also renewed contracts with MTN in Nigeria, South Africa, and Rwanda, bolstering its role in African telecom infrastructure.  Sam Darwish, who holds a 3.8 percent stake in the company, continues to be a prominent figure in the African telecom industry.

Since its partnership with UNICEF commenced in 2019, IHS Nigeria has invested over $4 million in various initiatives, including GenU 9ja, COVID-19 interventions, oxygen plant installations, WASH initiatives, and school connectivity efforts. Through these initiatives, IHS aims to restore essential services and build resilience among affected populations.