In an effort to execute Governor Udom Emmanuel’s policy of developing the agricultural sector for food sufficiency, the Akwa Ibom State Ministry of Agriculture, has solicited for collaboration with research centres.
Speaking at the maiden seminar organised by the Centre for Wetlands and Waste Management Studies (CWWMS), University of Uyo (UNIUYO), the commissioner for Agriculture, Mr. Mathew Nathan Ekaette, tasked research centres to come up with innovations to improve the agric sector.
The commissioner said government would spare no effort in collaborating with CWWMS and other research institutes on ideas to develop the sector.
The director of the Centre, Prof. Gabriel Umoh, explained that the seminar tagged: “Critical Pathways to Sustainable Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WaSH) in Nigerian Wetlands Communities”, became imperative because of the critical nature of water to human development.
Umoh emphasised that the mission of the centre “is to promote the protection, conservation and sustainability of wetlands, their resources and biodiversity through research, information exchange and allied activities”.
He, however, extended his hands of fellowship to the government, organisations and agencies to partner the centre with a view to delving into critical areas of research to enhance societal and human capacity development.
Senior Lecturer at the Department of Geography and Natural Resources, UNIUYO, Dr. Emmanuel Akpabio, underscored the importance of water in the development of any country.
“Water is the anchor point of development of every country. Any country short of water is prone to underdevelopment”, he stressed and tasked government on efficient water engineering.
