*As Minster calls for more funding
By Achadu Gabriel, Kaduna
The Director General (DG), National Water Resources Institute (NWRI), Kaduna, Professor Emmanuel Adamu has decried shortage of staff especially female staff in the area of laboratory science and other staff in areas where their services are seriously in need.
Prof. Adamu who disclosed this in welcome address during the familiarization tour of the institute by the Minister of State Ministry of Water Resources and Sanitation, Bello Muhammad Goronyo, in Kaduna state, said the institute need manpower to meet up with its task and mandate of providing adequate water resources required for the country.
“We need more hands, more employees, we need more female, in fact, a lots female staff in the institute”, the DG said, commending the management and staff for harmonious working relationship indiscriminately.
Also addressing the staffs, the Minister of State for Ministry of Water Resources and Sanitation, Bello Muhammad Goronyo, said the National Water Resources Institute, Kaduna is over due for upgrade to a World Class University or institution.
Hon. Goronyo who made the disclosure in an interview during his familiarization tour said the Institute has capacity to be made world class University with the arrays of professors, Doctors, Masters degrees holders and staffs of the institute.
According to him, the Institute has all it takes to become a degree awarding institution to provide the necessary manpower needed in teaching and learning, and capacity building in water resources sector.
Minster Goronyo earlier outlined the mandate of water resources Ministry to include providing sustainable access to safe and sufficient water to meet the socio-economic need of all Nigerians through efficient water resources management for basic human needs.
Others are irrigated agriculture, hydro power generation, national food security, promoting healthy population while maintaining the integrity of the fresh water and ecosystem of the nation.
The minister stated that other mandates of the ministry includes policy formulation, implementation of water programmes and strategies to move the sector forward, while soliciting for more funding to the water Institute’s financial shortfalls.
“The Institute located in Kaduna is a parastatal under the federal ministry of water resources and sanitation established to provide capacity building in water resources sectors.
“To Perform applied research functions in all aspect of water resources development and management of things such as flood control, river regulation, reclamation, drainage, irrigation, domestic and industrial water supply, Sanitation and hygiene practice. It also conducts training for non technical officers in water sector”, he said.
The minster further explained the institute also collaborate with Nigerian Defense Academy (NDA), to carry out conventional courses and Award National Certificates such as National Diploma, Higher National Diploma, Postgraduate Diploma and Master’s degree in water resources engineering technology, BIO- environmental engineering technology, survey and geo informatic, computer science, hydrology and water resources management as well as integrated water resources management.
He therefore commended the management of the institution for their dedicated and remarkable productivity in building capacity of personnel in the water sector, irrigation and flood control in achieving the sustainable water supply and nation food security goals under the renewed hope agenda of President Asiwaju Bola Ahmed
Tinubu,
During the visit, the Minister went round various departments including the institute’s Regional Centre for Integrated River Basin Management (RC-IRBM), amongst others.
