About 1,400 delegates from over 100 countries attended the annual event organised by the Stockholm International Water Institute in collaboration with 80 other governmental and voluntary agencies.
A press release signed by Abdulkadir Ahmad Ibrahim, Press Secretary to the Deputy Governor, the event featured seminars, symposium, technical tours, presentation of awards and exhibitions.
Speaking at the opening ceremony held at the Stockholm City Conference Centre, the Swedish minister of environment, Prof. Lena Sommersted, said democratic institutions and public cooperation are necessary for sustainable global water development.
In a keynote address, South Africa’s minister of water affairs and forestry, Mr. Buyelwa Patience Sonjia, said Africa needs social and economic development and the role of water in this effort cannot be ignored.
He said large dams to store water, pipes, water works, waste water treatment plants and other water related infrastructures are necessary for safe water.
There was a standing ovation for Ms Sunita Narain, the Director of the Centre for Science and Environment, New Delhi, India when she delivered the Stockholm Water prize lecture.
Ms Sunita Narain’s lecture deeply touched the minds and hearts of the big audience especially where she said: ‘’We see that drought is more or less permanent. After floods there are droughts. Many cities get water only three days per week. Is this because of lack of government programmes or lack of new thinking.’’
She stressed that water shortage in India and indeed, in other parts of the world leads to conflicts between communities, villages, cities and states. ‘’We must create a change in approach and achieve real political leadership. Water is everybody’s business and concern,’’ Ms Sunita Narain concluded.
At the conference, the Kano state deputy governor held fruitful discussion with other participants who are professionals in water engineering, geology and hydrology and visited the stands of governmental and private agencies who exhibited their products on water and other related matters.
In an interview with newsmen at the conference centre, Prof. Boniface Egboka of Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, in Anambra state, commended the commitment of Kano state deputy governor to the cause of clean water and healthy environment.
Prof. Egoka who is a member of the technical committee of the world water week was not happy with the non attendance of policy makers and experts on water and environment from Nigeria apart from Engr. Magaji Abdullahi.
He said that experts from all over the world gathered at the yearly Stockholm water week to discuss the problems of drought, loss of dams and rivers, gully erosion and water pollution and propose solutions.