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WATER EDUCATION AND INSTITUTIONAL DEVELOPMENTWater education and cooperation initiatives atthe National Water Resources Institute, NigeriaDr Olusanjo A. Bamgboye, Executive Director/Chief Executive and Dr Omogbemi O. Yaya, Chief Lecturer,National Water Resources Institute, Kaduna, NigeriaAn integrated water resources management (IWRM)approach to water resources development is effectiveand efficient if genuine cooperation is established amongthe water sector stakeholders. This can only be achieved throughcomprehensive water education at all levels of programmeand project activities. The National Water Resources Institute(NWRI) in Nigeria has initiated capacity building projects andprogrammes at different levels of human resources developmentfor knowledge and skills acquisition in the sector, therebyfostering cooperation among various stakeholders.Water is the engine that drives both the economy and the societybehind it. The tools and measures to manage the interlinkedchallenges of water, energy, food security and environmentalpreservation and achieve sustainable development are containedin IWRM, fully operated at river basin level. The key objective ofIWRM is to re-establish water quality and ecosystem functions. Thisis achieved through improved stormwater management; human andindustrial waste management; flood loss reduction; sedimentationand pollution control; improved drinking water quality;recreation; education; and the introduction of natural ormanmade cropping systems tailored to deliver solutionsat the river basin level. Against the backdrop of theseneeds, set in a human rights-based approach aimedat achieving sufficient, safe, acceptable and affordablewater for personal and domestic uses, the UnitedNations explicitly recognized the human right to waterand sanitation through its Resolution 64/292. A rightsbasedapproach entails prioritizing non-discriminatoryaccess to water, promoting inclusive participation inall decision-making mechanisms, and ensuring theaccountability and legal obligations of public institutions.Therefore locally appropriate, formal andinformal water education at all levels is imperative inorder to understand, appreciate and implement waterrights. Despite the best efforts of governments, IWRMhas not been implemented in most river basins due tolack of human capacity and institutional support. WaterImages: NWRIStudents of one of the 10 secondary schools receiving operational instructions at their meteorological station[ 144 ]