How Imo Marked ‘World Water Day’
While this year’s World Water Day came with the theme “Valuing water”, asks: What does water mean to me?
According to the United Nations Secretary General, António Guterres, the value of water is profound and complex. There is no aspect of sustainable development that does not fundamentally rely upon it.
For him, he said, “water means protection. A well-managed water cycle – encompassing drinking water, sanitation, hygiene, wastewater, transboundary governance, the environment and more – means a defence against ill-health and indignity and a response to challenges from a changing climate and increasing global demand”.
The United Nations had planned this year’s World Water Day to re-emphasise the important of water in human existence.
In the words of Secretary General, ” we want to record and understand as many views as possible, so decision-makers are better informed and equipped to safeguard this human right for every person and every purpose.”
In the same spirit, Imo State appropriately represented by Imo State Water and Sewarage Corporation also made the day a memorable one with enlightenment campaign and then capped it up with a lecture.
In commemoration of 2021 World Water Day, the Imo State Water and Sewarage Corporation had in Collaboration with the Nigerian Bottling Company, the Nigerian Breweries and the Nigerian Institution of Water Engineers held a Public Lecture on Friday 19th March 2021 at the Resource Centre of the Corporation, Okigwe Road Owerri.
The lecture titled SUSTAINABLE WATER SERVICES & WATERSHED PROTECTION IN Imo STATE. was delivered by Prof M.A. Nwachukwu PhD of the School of Environmental Sciences, FUTO .
The Public lecture was declared open by Imo State Governor Dist Sen Hope Uzodimma, ably represented by the Hon Commissioner, Ministry of Water Resources, Bar Tony Umezurike.
The Host, MD/CEO, Imo State Water and Sewarage Corporation Engr Emeka C Ugoanyanwu FNSE FNIWE introduced the essence of the Lecture while Engr Ebere Ononiwu MNSE read the Citation of the lecturer.
One of the take homes of the eruditely delivered lecture is
” _Save Water, Water will Save you”, Protect Watershed, Watershed will Save Water and water will Save you”.
Prof Nwachukwu opined that our freshwater bodies/rivers are heavily polluted and the watershed violated across the State and calls for urgent remediation to save lives as human lives cannot be sustained without healthy rivers.
He called for a more holistic and Integrated approach to development in Imo State. One development must not be allowed to destroy another.
Prof Nwachukwu finally recommended among others the Establishment of Water Resources Restoration/Management monitoring unit , immediate stoppage of human activities within & around Otamiri & Nworie river watershed, stoppage of dumping of municipal waste/refuse into our Rivers in Owerri and other cities.
In attendance includes
Bar Tony Umezuruike, Hon Commissioner, Ministry of Water Resources
Dr. Ik Njoku, Hon Commissioner Ministry of Environment,
Hon Tanana Olivtan Biaduo, Special Adviser to the Governor on Urban Water Supply
Mr TUC Nwokonkwo, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Water Resources,
Prof J Ogoke, Dean, School of Environmental Sciences FUTO
Mr Eutychus John, State Team Lead, USAID- EWASH and the Ewash team in Imo
Engr Akambi, President Association of Professional Women Engineers Owerri.
Mr Joba & Mr Adedayo of Nigerian Bottling Company, Engr Ebere Ononiwu of Nigerian Institution of Water Engineers,
Engr Chidozie Okereke FNSE, President Owerri Metropolitan Rotary international,
Mr Chibuzo Ezeigbo, Ag. GM/CEO Imo State Small Town Water Agency,
Engr Ngozi Nwogu FNSE, Vice Chairman Nigerian Society of Engineers Owerri,
Mr Emeka Aniuku of Nigerian Breweries, Representatives of Civil Society Organizations/NGOs.
Ofcourse FUTO boys Brigade electrified the venue with their band. A number of students of the school of Environmental Sciences FUTO were in attendance and staff of the State Water Agencies and the ministry of Water Resources.
The host Engr Emeka Ugoanyanwu FNSE FNIWE who is also the State Chairman of the Nigerian Institution of Water Engineers summarized the lecture while the Permanent Secretary Ministry of Water Resources Mr TUC Nwokonkwo said the closing remarks.
Day 2 of the commemoration of the World Water Day celebration took place today 22nd March with a road work from the Corporation’s Okigwe Road Headoffice complex through wetheral Road to the Otamiri headworks of the Owerri Regional Water scheme.
