The State Project Coordinator Kano-ACReSAL Dr. Dahir Muhammad Hashim, as the special guest of honour had the following message to convey during the occasion that took place today at the Auditorium of the Capital City University, Kano, through his Water Resource Officer Mr. Sulaiman Abubakar Sulaiman and the Project Communication Officer.

“First and foremost, I will have to start by extending my profound gratitude to Almighty Allah for sparing my life to witness this important day, I feel honoured to be acknowledged by the organisers of this important occasion as worthy of being part of the history of success stories of the 2024 annual international world water day.

To begin with, let me make my stance clear, by addressing you from the environmental point of view as the Project Coordinator of Kano-ACReSAL and a climate change advocate, to say that the inspiration that led to the creation of the World Water Day idea has never been commendable enough before than now when the world is faced with numerous challenges that are mostly attributable to water crisis.

Climate change, coupled with water mismanagement and overconsumption are the major drivers of drought and water shortages across many parts of the World.

The Agro-Climatic Resilience in Semi-Arid Landscapes (ACReSAL) project is a creation of the Federal Government of Nigeria (FGN) in collaboration with the Nineteen Northern States identified with high aridity index including the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), being implemented with the support of the World Bank through the Federal Ministry of Environment, in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Ministry of Water Resources.

ACReSAL main objective is to “increase the adoption of sustainable landscape management practices in targeted watersheds in Northern Nigeria and to strengthen Nigeria’s long-term framework for integrated climate resilience management.

To fast forward, ACReSAL has four distinctive components with sub-components designed to manageably and squarely address environmental challenges in Nigeria.

The component A, which is dry land management will facilitate activities that will implement integrated watershed management planning and address challenges of large-scale watershed degradation in Northern Nigeria. It will support the following subcomponents: strategic watershed planning; Landscape investment; and Special Ecosystems.

It will gladden you today when I say “Water” under the ACReSAL project occupies high positions and is considered an endowment that is in no account mismanaging will be taken lightly. Hence, ACReSAL always putting efforts to reorient communities on the best sustainable land and water management practices for sustainable development.

Water indeed is the source of life, as no living organism can survive without it. Environment flourishes when there is the availability of water for domestic, irrigation farming and of course animals’ consumption.

It is not a coincidence, that ACReSAL under its Components, Component C in particular, widened efforts towards supporting the long-term institutional and policy framework for integrated landscape management in Nigeria and support project management. It also includes investment to improve the enabling institutional and policy foundation for multi-sectoral integrated landscape management and climate resilience, as well as support project management through the improvement and support of capacity building, communication and monitoring & evaluation systems and activities.

Under this context, Kano-ACReSAL has recorded a number of achievements for example; the support of the state-of-the-art laboratory equipment and apparatus for the Department of Soil and Water Quality laboratory at the Yusuf Maitama Sule University, Kano. Construction of water conservation structures and provision of minor irrigation facilities in the Yansabo community of Tofa LGA for irrigation, and domestic purposes to improve their means of livelihood. Construction of solar-powered boreholes in some identified water scarcity communities across Kano State, etc.

At this point, let me pause and thank the hosts of this important occasion for allowing me to stand before you and deliver this note.

Finally, I encourage all of us to be custodians of this natural endowment in question i.e “Water” and never waste even a drop of “Water”

“Water For Peace”

The occasion was graced by important dignitaries from relevant MDAs, academia, Students and journalists.