The National Water Resources Institute (NWRI), Kaduna, has commended the management of the University of Ilorin for ensuring the smooth running of the campus branch of the National Water Sector Development Network (NWRCBNet). The Director, Research and Technical Services of the National Water Resources Institute, Kaduna, Dr. Bashir Dogara, gave the commendation last Monday (July 27, 2015) when he visited the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. AbdulGaniyu Ambali (OON), in his office.

Dr. Dogara explained that the rationale behind the establishment of the network was to bridge the human capacity and skills gaps in the water sector. According to him, the project has now become a platform for sharing multi-disciplinary information, experience, skills, materials, tools and knowledge in building capacity.

Dr. Dogara explained that the objectives of the network were to sustain manpower development for water resources management; strengthen institutions and human capacities through partnerships; and facilitate research and training, among others.

The Director added that the success of the network led to the establishment of NWRCBNet in 2006 by the National Council on Water Resources where the NWRI was mandated to coordinate its activities to enhance capacity development in the water sector.

He stated further that the expected results of the network in Nigeria are to provide capacity building of sector stakeholders at managerial and policy formulation levels; capacity building through short courses and programmes to meet the immediate needs of the water sector in lower and middle level cadres.

Others include the development of relevant specialties in the sector through research and postgraduate programmes in Eco-Hydrology, Water Resources Management-Optimization Models, Irrigation System Development, Water Resources System Models, Application of existing Software models-HOPE Project initiative, and ECO-FINANCE & Water Resources Development.

In his remarks, the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Ambali, described the partnership as a good omen, adding that the primary objectives of the University are to teach, to carryout research and provide community services.

The Vice-Chancellor thanked the institute for acknowledging the contributions of the University of Ilorin in the area of its partnership with the institute, pointing out that the acknowledgement would further spur the University to ensure the sustainability of the network even beyond 2019.

Prof. Ambali pledged that the management of the University of Ilorin would not rest on its oars in ensuring that the institution sustains its leading role among the tertiary institutions in the country.