About us
Water is life
Merry-Gold Water Charity grew out of our founder's visits to Lagos, where he saw daily water shortages caused by inadequate public water supply. We exist to change that, one community at a time.
Our first water point opened at Odo-Ayandelu in 2021 and now serves about 2,000 people who once relied on distant, unsafe streams. Our second, a solar-powered borehole at Owu-Ikosi, opened in 2025 for more than 3,000 people.
We build modern boreholes with reservoirs and fetching points, at low cost and with local partners. Local leaders oversee each water point, and we monitor, maintain and evaluate it so it keeps working.
Our mission
To improve the quantity and quality of water to households in the most vulnerable rural communities in Lagos, Nigeria and beyond.
Our vision
To provide safe drinking water to 40% of the rural households in communities in Lagos in the next 5 years.
What we work towards
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Safer water
Clean, treated water that is safe to drink.
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Closer to home
Fetching points in the community, not a long walk away.
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Run with communities
Local leaders oversee each water point.
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Measured and maintained
We monitor every water point and keep it working.
Our values
We are a PARTNER
Seven values guide how our trustees and volunteers work with every community and supporter.
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Professionalism
Water-industry experience behind every project.
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Accountability
Open about where every gift goes.
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Reliability
Water points built to keep working.
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Trust
Registered in the UK and Nigeria.
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Nobility
Doing the right thing, even when no one is watching.
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Empathy
Starting from what communities tell us they need.
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Respect
For every community, partner and supporter.
Why we started
From Thames Water to rural Lagos
Prince Akeem Adenuga has spent more than twenty years at Thames Water, from leakage technician to supervising water projects. On visits home to Lagos he kept seeing daily water shortages, and families walking to distant streams for water that wasn't safe to drink.
Merry-Gold Water Charity is his answer: practical, well-built water points, run with the communities that use them, by trustees who know water.
Our story and trusteesOpen and accountable
We are funded by individual donations, grants, corporate sponsorship and gifts in kind. Our trustees in the UK and Nigeria give their time as volunteers.
- Registered in England and Wales
- Charity 1203569
- Registered in Nigeria
- CAC/IT/NO 146464
- Accounts
- Charity Commission register
- Our people
- Trustees and team
Join us
Give, volunteer, fundraise or partner with us.