FAST Microfinance Bank (MFB) and the National Association of Microfinance Banks (NAMB) have launched FastWash, a financial product aimed at improving access to clean water, sanitation, and hygiene across Nigeria.
Announcing the initiative in Abuja on Monday, Mrs. Juliet Odigie, Acting Managing Director of FAST MFB, said FastWash was developed in partnership with global nonprofit Water.org to provide affordable financing for households, SMEs, and communities investing in water and sanitation projects.
“The goal is to improve lives by enabling access to vital water and hygiene services,” Odigie said, adding that the initiative reflects FAST MFB’s belief that financial empowerment should align with social impact.
She noted that access to clean water and sanitation is a basic human right and key to sustainable development, stressing that FastWash would remove financial barriers preventing many Nigerians from accessing safe water and hygiene solutions.
“With FastWash, citizens can obtain low-interest loans for water and sanitation facilities, improving health, productivity, and living conditions,” she said.
Mr. Gilbert Okpono, Senior Partnership Account Manager at Water.org, described the product as the outcome of long-term planning and research to tackle hygiene challenges in Edo State and beyond.
“Clean water and hygiene shouldn’t be a luxury. This product is more than finance—it’s a commitment to health, dignity, and progress,” he said.
NAMB’s Executive Secretary, Mr. Eddy Orok, commended FAST MFB for aligning the product with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 6 on clean water and sanitation.
He said other microfinance institutions would soon roll out similar products to expand financial inclusion and support national development goals.
