| Experts Proffer Solutions to Africa's Water Challenges |
Water experts have emphasized the need for an integrated approach and regional cooperation among countries for the effective management of continent’s water resources if it is to solve its current and future challenges.
The experts, drawn from various parts of Africa, made the call during a two-day regional conference on water organized by the Africa Leadership Forum (ALF) in conjunction with the Melody for Dialogue among Civilizations Association (MDACA).
The event, held on November 30 and December 1, was graced by former President Olusegun Obasanjo who delivered the Keynote address; Dr. Hans d’Orville, an Assistant Director-General at UNESCO who represented the organization’s Director-General; Dr. Stephen Maxwell Donkor, chair UN Water/Africa; Dr. Grace Ongile, Country Representative UN Women/Nigeria and ECOWAS and Amb. Michael Omolewa, former Nigeria’s Permanent Representative to UNESCO.
While welcoming participants to the event, the Executive Director of ALF, Mr. Ayodele Aderinwale, said African countries are failing to utilize their water resources to the benefit of their people. He cited the example of Nigeria which he said has “surface and groundwater resources estimated to at about 300 billion cubic meters, an amount which is more than adequate to meet our current and future water demands. So the question is why are we surrounded with so much water yet we have so little to use to our benefit?”
Mr. Aderinwale said the devastating effect of clean water scarcity made it necessary for the ALF and MDACA to organize the conference in order “to form multi-stakeholder partnerships that accelerate the provision of water to the majority of the under-served and unreached population.”
In her address, President of MDACA, said “equitable and sustainable management of shared water resources requires flexible, holistic institutions, able to respond to hydrological variations, changes in socio-economic needs, societal values and particularly, political regime changes leading to conflict and loss of security. The strategic response to the above scenario is known as Integrated Water Resources Management.”
Delivering his Keynote, former President Obasanjo drew attention to the depleting condition of Africa’s water sources. “Some key water sources like the Lake Chad are fast disappearing and unless urgent actions are taken to reverse the trend, the lives and livelihood of millions of people will be at risk,” Chief Obasanjo said.
He expressed optimism that participants at the conference will develop advocacy strategy that will influence policymaking on water management across the continent.
“In your reviews, assessments and discussions, I implore you to look at several continental initiatives which have been designed to address some of these concerns, so as to have a united and harmonized agenda going forward to the Global Forum in 2012 and also the June 2012 gathering of World Leaders in Rio de Janeiro to seek a new consensus on global actions to safeguard the future of the planet and the right of future generations everywhere to live healthy and fulfilling lives.”
Discussions at the conference were moderated by an array of professionals including Prof Lekan Oyebande, one of Nigeria’s leading hydrologists, Mr Peter Akari, Chief Water Officer of the African Development Bank and Dr. Stephen Donkor.
Highlights of the conference included the performance of a theme song she wrote for the conference by the Queen of Drums, Ara. The music drama with the theme “The Breath of water holds Life” focused on the essence of preserving water and keeping it clean to save lives. Participants were also treated to performance poetry by Amelia Aghwana, a student of The Bells Secondary School, Ota.
At the end of the meeting, participants created an Africa Water Focus Group to “serve as a conduit pipe for the integration of Africa’s water management needs to the Global water Agenda”. The group members included Mehri Madarshahi, Stephen Donkor, Peter Akari, Ayodele Aderinwale, Araola Olumuyiwa and Arukiano Umokor.
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