THE Federal Government has called on the United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organisation to rise to the challenge of addressing the issues in the Lake Chad Basin.
Minister of Education, Malam Adamu Adamu, made the call when a team of officials from UNESCO paid him a courtesy visit in his office in Abuja.
He reminded his guests that President Muhammadu Buhari had also requested UNESCO to lead discussion on the issue of resuscitating the Lake Chad Basin by convening an international conference to take stock of the challenges and proffer solutions.
Minister of State for Education, Professor Anthony Gozie Anwukah, received the team on behalf of Malam Adamu Adamu, who is the president of UNESCO Commission in Nigeria.
He commended UNESCO for responding promptly to the request made to the Director-General, Irina Bokova by President Buhari, concerning intervention on Lake Chad issue and urged the body to continue to expand its programmes and activities to humanity so as to achieve sustainable development and lasting peace in the region.
The Minister expressed confidence in the capacity of UNESCO with its pool of experts, to find a lasting solution to the challenges faced by the people living in the Lake Chad region.
He, however, acknowledged the immense contributions of UNESCO towards educational development in Nigeria, especially in the area of strengthening of science, technology, engineering and innovative education system.
Nigeria’s Permanent Delegation to UNESCO, Mrs Mariam Katagum, in her remark, revealed that about 68 million people living around the Lake Chad relied on the project to meet their water needs.
She noted that finding lasting solution would stem further displacement of the citizens which could expose them to further crises.
The UNESCO Assistant Director-General, Africa Department, Firmin Matoko and the Assistant Director-General for Natural Sciences, Flavia Schiegel, provided further technical insight on the Lake Chad Basin project.
Earlier, in a welcome address, Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Education, Dr. Jamila Shu’ara, described UNESCO as a worthy partner in the education sector, saying that the manifestation of its collaboration with the Ministry was very visible.
She also commended UNESCO for its promotion of Nigeria’s cultural heritage; the Durbar as well as the Argungu Fishing Festivals which are now acknowledged globally.
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