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Water education and cooperation initiatives at
the National Water Resources Institute, Nigeria
Dr Olusanjo A. Bamgboye, Executive Director/Chief Executive and Dr Omogbemi O. Yaya, Chief Lecturer,
National Water Resources Institute, Kaduna, Nigeria
A
n integrated water resources management (IWRM)
approach to water resources development is effective
and efficient if genuine cooperation is established among
the water sector stakeholders. This can only be achieved through
comprehensive water education at all levels of programme
and project activities. The National Water Resources Institute
(NWRI) in Nigeria has initiated capacity building projects and
programmes at different levels of human resources develop-
ment for knowledge and skills acquisition in the sector, thereby
fostering cooperation among various stakeholders.
Water is the engine that drives both the economy and the society
behind it. The tools and measures to manage the interlinked
challenges of water, energy, food security and environmental
preservation and achieve sustainable development are contained
in IWRM, fully operated at river basin level. The key objective of
IWRM is to re-establish water quality and ecosystem functions. This
is achieved through improved stormwater management; human and
industrial waste management; flood loss reduction; sedimentation
and pollution control; improved drinking water quality;
recreation; education; and the introduction of natural or
manmade cropping systems tailored to deliver solutions
at the river basin level. Against the backdrop of these
needs, set in a human rights-based approach aimed
at achieving sufficient, safe, acceptable and afford-
able water for personal and domestic uses, the United
Nations explicitly recognized the human right to water
and sanitation through its Resolution 64/292. A rights-
based approach entails prioritizing non-discriminatory
access to water, promoting inclusive participation in
all decision-making mechanisms, and ensuring the
accountability and legal obligations of public insti-
tutions. Therefore locally appropriate, formal and
informal water education at all levels is imperative in
order to understand, appreciate and implement water
rights. Despite the best efforts of governments, IWRM
has not been implemented in most river basins due to
lack of human capacity and institutional support. Water
W
ater
E
ducation
and
I
nstitutional
D
evelopment
Students of one of the 10 secondary schools receiving operational instructions at their meteorological station
Images: NWRI