By Ifeanyichukwu Ibe
Owerri, the Imo State Capital was agog on Saturday, December 14, as members of the Association of Table Water Producers (ATWAP), Imo State Chapter, comprising of producers of bottled, sachet and dispensing water, held their 2024 End of the Year Party at the Rockview Hotels, Owerri. ATWAP members also resolved to sanitize the industry against quackery and unhealthy water production in the state, while unveiling their plans to establish Imo ATWAP Secretariat, Skills Acquisition School and a Recycling Center.
Before the party which witnessed capacity building, relaxation and pleasantries, ATWAP members had embarked on roadshow, sensitizing the public on the activities and commitments of the association towards public safety through production of healthy water for consumption. A novelty match among ATWAP members also took place at the City Secondary School Owerri on Friday.
Dignitaries got awards for their contributions towards ATWAP. They included: Senator Ezenwa Onyewuchi, Dr. Doris Uzoka-Anite (Minister of State, Finance), Amb Kema Chikwe, Brigadier Gen. Usman Lawal, CP Aboki Danjuma, Sir. Macdonald Ebere, Hon Eugene Dibiagwu, Chief Henry Njoku (Harritex), a former State Director of NAFDAC, Mrs. Lilian Duru, Mrs. Caroline Francis Ogbuji of Macrafan Table Water and the Director of Prym Hotel, Hon Nnamdi Ezerioha.
Addressing, the ATWAP Chairman, Imo State, Engr. Bismarck Lumanze, expressing joy, thanked members for their hard work and commitment to the association. “As we gather to celebrate our achievements and recognize the outstanding contributions of our members, I’m filled with pride and gratitude,” he noted, highlighting efforts at promoting the interest of members through advocacies and engagements with policymakers and stakeholders.
He said that his leadership had also expanded training and capacity building exercises for members, equipping them with skills and knowledge needed to stay competitive in the industry, while fostering collaborations and sharing of best practices and expertise that enable members to improve the overall quality and safety of water produced in the state for the wellbeing of the consumers. He encouraged members to always stick to standards.
Lumanze, who is also the CEO of Lumaco Table Water, stated further: “As we look to the future, I’m excited to announce that our association will be embarking on several new initiatives aimed at promoting sustainability, innovation, and growth in the water production industry. We will be launching new programmes, expanding our advocacy efforts, and exploring new opportunities for collaboration and partnership.” He appealed to the state government to allocate land to the association for its secretariat, training school and recycling center, thanking awardees for their contributions towards ATWAP.
Delivering his lecture titled: “Table Water Production in Owerri: the Customers’ Areas of Concerns” the Guest Speaker, Prof Peter Okorie represented by Prof. Afamdi Anene of the Abia State University, disclosed that table water has become a significant industry because of high volume of activities both in production and consumption. He stressed the need to prioritize quality because of public health, urging ATWAP to sanitize the industry by eliminating quackery and unwholesome practices.
Prof Anene, however, suggested ways of improving activities in the sector to include compliance to regulatory standards, monitoring of movements of the products from production to consumption as well as labelling of the producing company’s name and quality components. He emphasized the importance of environmental protection, urging the association to establish a research center, and a recycling center to take care of non-degradable waste materials.
Earlier, the Chairman of the occasion, Chief Sir Chukwdi Opara, hailed ATWAP under Engr. Lumanze for the wonderful event and its activities in the state. He urged members to use the opportunity to chart the ways forward, stressing the importance of water to life. While ATWAP Vice-Chairman in the state, Lady Joy Uwakwe commended the chairman for demonstrating capacity and innovation with the event.
On his own, the immediate past Vice-Chairman and CEO of Aljon Life Table Water, Mr. Ezike Obinna John, described the programmes as unprecedented, extolling the chairman for vision, and urged him to sustain it for the progress of the association. The event was attended by dignitaries, including, Hon Chidi Onyebuchi, Hon Amby Chukwu, Hon Chibuzor Awurum, Eze Prof. Dele Amuzienwa Odigbo and Imo State NAFDAC Director, Mrs. Mercy Ndukwe.
