Chad Basin Summer School Concludes in Nigeria: A Step Towards Sustainable Water Resource Management
By Okwo Romeon
The 2nd Lake Chad Basin Summer School has successfully concluded in Nigeria, marking a significant step towards addressing the complex challenges facing the Lake Chad Basin.
The program, organized by the Intercommunity Development Social Organization (IDS) in partnership with the University of Nigeria Nsukka (UNN) and the Deutsch University Kazakhstan with funding from the Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs through Water and Development partnership Programme – IHE DELFT Institutes for Water Education (UNESCO) brought together international academics and practitioners to train Master’s and Doctorate researchers.
In his address on the opening day in Nsukka Enugu State, Southeast Nigeria, Prof. Jude Tochukwu Omenma of UNN says, the summer school is unique opportunities for junior scholars and early careers to discuss and learn amongst each other and the best ways to improve access to water, avoid water scarcity and reduce vulnerability among children and women.
In his words, “the summer school is also a SPECIAL opportunity to present your research papers among peers with similar interests and grow your networks”
The summer school brings together an international team of academics and practitioners to train and mentor a group of 15 masters degree Students/Doctorate Degree researchers and early careers in the Universities and other research institutions to learn about local water governance and management.
The Project Director of IDS Nigeria, McShimana Jacobs Akem welcomes and appreciate participants and resources persons across Niger, Cameroon, Chad, Nigeria and Kazakhstan to the second edition of the Summer School which he believes was unique as it be held at first time in the Coal City of Enugu while urging participants to enjoy the City warmness and utilized the knowledge, skills and experience acquired during the summer school to develop quality academic research and for the development the Lake Chad Basin and Africa at large.
Dr. Madina Mussayeva and Symbat Dildabekova of the Deutsch University Kazakhstan (DKU) made technical presentations on Building Shared Futures in the Aral Sea and the Lake Chad Basin:
The ASB&LCB Space Initiative and Aral Summer Schools – The Role of Youth and Education in Addressing Environmental Challenges in the Aral Sea Region respectively. Other resource persons include Dr. Rakiya A. Babamaaji of NASRDA Abuja and Prof. Freedom Onuoha of UNN among others.
The highlight of the Summer School includes field visits to Lake Chad Research Institutes, Water Treatment Plant and Alua Dam Maiduguri, Borno State, Nigeria for situation analysis. Others are cultural exchange and presentation of certificate to participants.
