FG inaugurates Governing Board of UNESCO Category II Regional Centre for Integrated River Basin Management

[The InfoStrides]

The Federal Government has inaugurated  the Governing Board of UNESCO Category II Regional Centre for  Integrated River Basin Management (IRBM) to conduct training and research on all aspects of Integrated River Basin Management and also to provide data bank for Integrated River Basin Management in West Africa.

While inaugurating the board in Abuja, the Minister of Water Resources, Mrs. Sarah Reng Ochekpe said that the UNESCO Category II Centre for Integrated River Basin Management is situated in National Water Resources Instituted, Kaduna.   

 

According to her, the centre would  promote review and develop the Institutional Framework for the IRBM in the countries of the West African sub-region including International and Regional Treaties, Conventions and Agreements of Water laws, Water Policies and international best practices.

Ochekpe further said that the centre would promote efficient water management strategies within and across river basins at the community, local, state, national, regional, and international levels.  It would also promote exchange of programmes among professionals, academic and other stakeholders from member states in the African sub-region, among others.

The Minister disclosed that the agreement for the establishment of the centre was signed between the Director General, UNESCO, Her Excellency, Ms. Irana Bokova and the Minister of Water Resources, Mrs. Sarah Reng Ochekpe, during the 6th World Water Forum in Marseille, France on 12th March 2012.

"The Regional Centre for Integrated River Basin Management was established within the framework of relevant laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as host country, in line with UNESCO's guideline for establishing Category II Centre.   Article 8 of this agreement provides for the appointment of a Governing Board to guide and supervise the activities of the Centre"; the minister said.

Mrs. Ochekpe said that the Board therefore, is expected to approve long-term and medium term programme of the Centre, approve the annual work plan and budget of the Centre including the staffing, and examine annual reports submitted by the Director of the Centre including a biennial self assessment of the Centre's contribution to UNESCO programme objectives.

The Board is also expected to issue out the general rules and regulations as well as determine the financial, administrative and personnel management of the Centre.  It is the duty of the Board to decide on participation of regional intergovernmental organization and international organization in the work of the Centre.

"Let me assure this august gathering that Government is making concerted efforts to provide a take-off fund for the operation of the Centre as contain in Article 13 of the Agreement.  The National Water Resources Institute has been strengthened in the Interim to serve as the take off Centre"; she said.

In his response, the Chairman of the Governing Board, Professor Oladapo Afolabi thanked the Minister for considering them worthy for the appointment.  He assured the Minister that members of the Board would work hard to achieve the mandate of Centre.

The Permanent delegate, UNESCO, Mrs. Maryam Katagun said that establishment of the Centre would enable the Member countries to learn from one another.

The member countries include Benin, Burkina Faso, Cape Verde, Cote d' Ivoire, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea Bissau, Liberia, Mali Niger, Senegal, Sierra Leone and Togo.

Federal Republic Of Nigeria | nigeria.gov.ng

[Folami David]

The federal government is doing great I must say so let's hope it continues that way.
They should keep it up!