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Pepsodent targets 3m Nigerians with nationwide dental health programme
By Doris Obinna
In commemoration of the 2025 World Oral Health Day (WOHD), Pepsodent, in collaboration with the Nigerian Dental Association (NDA), has launched a nationwide dental health campaign, “Talk to A Dentist.”
The initiative aims to promote oral hygiene and provide access to dental care across 20 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), with a target of reaching three million Nigerians this year.
At a press conference in Lagos, to mark the occasion, Pepsodent’s Brand Manager, Mary Akindola, emphasised the importance of instilling good oral hygiene habits, particularly among children. She encouraged regular brushing twice daily for at least two minutes, highlighting the significance of oral health as a fundamental human right regardless of socioeconomic status or location.
She noted that, according to the World Health Organisation (WHO), nearly half of the world’s population suffers from oral health conditions, with tooth decay being a major concern affecting two billion adults globally.
As part of its mission to drive behavioural change, Pepsodent plans to expand its schools programme to reach 2.7 million pupils. Additionally, the brand will launch dental camp activations projected to reach 300,000 Nigerians across key regions in the North, West, and East.
These activations, it disclosed, will include free dental screenings, oral hygiene education, and treatments in communities, with specific locations spread across Lagos, Ogun, Oyo, Osun, Ondo, Edo, Delta, Enugu, Rivers, Akwa Ibom, Abia, Anambra, Cross River, Kano, Katsina, Kaduna, Borno, Plateau, Nasarawa, Niger, and Abuja.
“In addition to these initiatives, Pepsodent will conduct oral health education and screenings for 30,000 pupils across 50 schools in Lagos, Ibadan, Port Harcourt, Enugu, and Abuja to further mark the World Oral Health Day celebration.”
Personal Care Research & Development Head of Africa at Unilever, Uchenna Nwakanma, reaffirmed the company’s commitment to improving oral health awareness and increasing access to dental care. He stated that Pepsodent’s initiatives have reached over 640,000 Nigerians in five years, with the school programme impacting 9.1 million pupils since its inception. “With plans to reach 2.7 million more in 2025, the program is projected to benefit 11.8 million Nigerians by the end of the year.”
Nwakanma emphasised that prevention remains the most effective strategy in combating oral disease, stressing that educating children on oral hygiene can significantly reduce preventable dental conditions.
Speaking on the significance of the campaign, the President, NDA, Dr. Elias Emedom, commended Pepsodent and Unilever Nigeria Plc for their continued support in promoting oral health in the country. He underscored the strong link between oral health and mental well-being, noting that this year’s FDI theme, “A Healthy Mouth is a Happy Mind,” seeks to draw attention to the connection between dental health and overall wellness.
He highlighted challenges such as poor oral health awareness and limited access to dental care, which continue to contribute to the rising burden of oral diseases in Nigeria. He assured that the NDA remains committed to collaborating with government agencies and healthcare providers to improve oral health across the nation.
On her part, Director, Dentistry Division at the Federal Ministry of Health, Dr. Gloria Uzoigwe, acknowledged the government’s ongoing efforts to enhance oral health policies and integrate dental care into primary healthcare services. She praised Pepsodent’s public-private partnership approach, stating that such collaborations are essential in achieving national health goals.
“With an ambitious target of reaching three million Nigerians in 2025, Pepsodent’s dental health campaign is set to make a significant impact in promoting better oral hygiene and expanding access to dental care. Through its partnerships with the NDA, government agencies, and other stakeholders, the campaign reinforces the importance of preventive oral healthcare in improving the overall well-being of Nigerians.”