The Gombe State Commissioner for Water Environment and Forest Resources, Mohammed Saidu Fawu, on Tuesday played host to Professor Babagana Kolo, Director North-East Regional Centre for National Water Resources Capacity Building Network, University of Maiduguri.
Our correspondent reports that the visit was hinged on advocacy and familiarisation for enhanced partnership and collaboration.
Fawu who welcomed the Director and his entourage warmly to Gombe State also enjoined them to enjoy the hospitality, while their trip lasted.
He stated that it is timely, as there is a knowledge gap which the ministry is eager to leverage and partner with the Centre for enhanced productivity and to harness potentials in the water and ecosystem sectors.
The Commissioner assured the Director and his team of the ministry’s readiness to collaborate for capacity building and training of its staff and that of its relevant agencies.
Fawu also assured them that he would exploit other means to ensure that the state government partners and collaborates extensively with the Centre, “so that Gombe State as a stakeholder will be an active participant,” he added.
Speaking earlier, Director of the Centre Professor Kolo, used the medium to applaud and congratulate the Commissioner on his appointment and expressed delight that water and environment is being housed in the same ministry under his leadership “as it will enhance productivity since they are interrelated and inseparable,” he said.
Kolo, thereafter highlighted a brief overview of what the Centre is set up for and reeled out some of the success stories and areas they have done interventions which are not limited to promoting effective partnership in education, training, research and information dissemination on water Resources development and management with a view of endangering integrated water resources management and ecosystem sustainability in the North-East states.
He, however, frowned at the lackadaisical attitude of states in the North-East who are not leveraging on the centre to boost capacity of their staff in terms of training and sponsorship of staff in research which they are key stakeholders and urged the state government to do more in that regard.
He went further to elaborate and list courses offered by the center which include, Masters Program in Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (MSC.WASH); Professional Masters in Water Sanitation and Hygiene ( M WASH); Post Graduate Diploma Program in Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (PGD WASH); Masters in Integrated Water Resources Management (MIWRM); Post Graduate Diploma program in Integrated Water Resources Management (PGDIWRM).
He added, “The Centre also offers Executive Hybrid courses both PGD and MSC in WASH related fields of study where online platforms are utilised for learning without physical presence in the centre.”
Present at the colourful event were the Director Water Resources, Administration and Finance, Environment and that of PRS, Fisheries and Forestry alongside other senior staff of the ministry.
Amos Pononyamba Fabulous
Information Officer
MOWE&FR
