The Chair in Integrated Flood Management and Water Resources was established by the Federal Government of Nigeria, through the Federal Ministry of Water Resources and Sanitation, in partnership with UNESCO to improve food security, sustainable livelihoods, and water resource management throughout the nation.
The Federal University of Technology in Minna, Nigeria, is home to the UNESCO Chair in Integrated Flood control and Water Resources, which seeks to enhance institutional capabilities and knowledge in the areas of flood control and water resource development.
Enhancing knowledge of the hydrological system of the Niger Basin, creating cutting-edge flood control instruments including early warning systems and multi-hazard response plans, and increasing awareness via online platforms are some of its goals. It also emphasizes capacity building and providing policymakers with the information they need to make wise decisions.
The Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Prof. Joseph Terlumun Utsev, stressed the importance of the UNESCO Committee in promoting research and knowledge for efficient flood risk management in remarks at the inauguration workshop held in Abuja on December 4-5, 2024.
He pointed out that renowned research and higher education organizations committed to enhancing our knowledge and management of flood hazards are leading the committee.
Prof. Utsev emphasized that the rising frequency and severity of floods around the world are mostly caused by climate change and global warming.
He emphasized the pressing need for evidence-based plans and knowledge-based solutions to direct government initiatives and use best practices in order to lessen Nigeria’s flooding problems.
The Minister clarified that the UNESCO Committee is a cooperative forum that fosters training, research, and the sharing of important information in the environmental and water domains.
According to him, the committee’s goals are to better understand Nigeria’s river basins, create a multi-hazard flood response plan, and highlight the effects of UNESCO’s work in the nation.
In addition to thanking UNESCO for its ongoing assistance in expanding our understanding of water science, Prof. Utsev urged participants to use the workshop as a platform for meaningful discussion and to offer creative solutions to the management of water resources, with an emphasis on food security and sustainable livelihoods for Nigerians.
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Dr. Albert Mendy spoke on behalf of Mr. Abdourahamane Diallo, Head of the UNESCO Abuja Office, who underlined the importance of water for justice, food security, and sustainable development.
He emphasized the significance of managing water resources sustainably and the effects of climate change.
In his welcome speech, Prof. Onemayin David Jimoh, the chairman of the National IHP Committee, emphasized the value of cooperation and creativity in tackling Nigeria’s water management issues. In order to guarantee resilience and sustainable water usage, he emphasized the critical need for efficient management of groundwater resources and watershed regions.
Key stakeholders, including the Secretary-General of the National Commission for UNESCO, the Director General of the Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency (NIHSA), the Director General of the National Water Resources Institute (NWRI), and the Acting Executive Director of the Nigerian Integrated Water Resources Management Commission (NIWRMC), conveyed goodwill messages.
Additional speakers at the event included Ms. Enang Moma from the UNESCO Abuja Office, who gave a perceptive summary of the workshop’s goals and focus, the Vice Chancellor of the Federal University of Technology, Minna, and the UNESCO IHP Secretariat.
