Nigeria, through the federal ministry of water resources and sanitation, in collaboration with the Embassy of Hungary in Nigeria, on Tuesday hosted the Nigeria-Hungarian Water Forum in Abuja.
The high-level event marked a major milestone in bilateral cooperation between Nigeria and Hungary in the areas of water resources management, engineering innovation, flood control, and climate resilience.
The forum was attended by the minister of water resources and sanitation, Prof. Joseph Terlumun Utsev; and Lóránd Endreffy, the ambassador of Hungary to Nigeria. Also in attendance was the head of the civil service of the federation, who was represented by Dr. Nicholas Dumebi Madu; and the permanent secretary, Mr. Richard Pheelangwah, alongside representatives from government agencies, academia, the private sector, and development partners.
In his welcome address, Prof. Utsev commended the deepening collaboration between Nigeria and Hungary, describing it as “a critical milestone in the longstanding and mutually beneficial cooperation between our two nations in the field of water resources management, innovation, engineering excellence, and climate resilience, a partnership rooted in shared vision and mutual respect.”
The minister underscored the need for innovative, scalable, and technology-driven solutions to address Nigeria’s water sector challenges, noting that Hungary’s renowned expertise in water engineering and wastewater treatment offers valuable opportunities for knowledge sharing, capacity building, and technical cooperation.
According to him, “our engagement today is not just timely, it is visionary. We are deepening our commitment to capacity development, research collaboration, and the practical deployment of scalable water solutions that will improve lives and strengthen resilience.”
He emphasized that the newly signed academic partnership would enhance the capacity of Nigerian engineers and researchers through advanced training and joint research programmes, supporting the federal government’s Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, which prioritizes universal access to safe drinking water, effective sanitation, and national water security.
Prof. Utsev called for the transformation of goodwill into concrete outcomes. His words: “Let this forum conclude not only with the signing of agreements but with clear implementation frameworks, timelines, pilot projects, and investment commitments that will directly touch the lives of our citizens.”
He further reaffirmed the federal government’s commitment to creating an enabling environment for international cooperation, private sector participation, and investment in the water sector.
In response, Ambassador Endreffy described the Forum as a “historic milestone” in advancing bilateral cooperation in water management and infrastructure development.
He highlighted Hungary’s long-standing excellence in water supply, wastewater treatment, and flood management while commending Nigeria’s determination to pursue innovative and adaptive solutions.
The ambassador emphasized that Hungarian expertise can serve as a reliable technical partner in Nigeria’s water sector and expressed appreciation to the federal government and the minister of water resources and sanitation for their leadership and commitment, underscoring the national significance of this partnership.
The forum featured a series of technical papers and presentations by experts from both countries, sharing insights and innovations to strengthen water security, flood management, and climate resilience. The sessions showcased practical interventions and case studies demonstrating the potential for sustainable and scalable water management solutions across Nigeria.
Resource persons at the forum included Dr. Abduljalal Danbaba, director general, National Water Resources Institute (NWRI), Kaduna; Dr. Márk Honti, researcher, Hungarian Academy of Sciences, and professor, Budapest University of Technology and Economics (BUTE); Mrs. Zubaida Umar, director general, National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), who was represented by Air Commodore A.Y. Oyong, director, search and rescue department; and Umar Ibrahim Mohammed, director general, Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency (NIHSA), among others.
A major highlight of the event was the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the National Water Resources Institute (NWRI), Kaduna and the Budapest University of Technology and Economics (BUTE).
The agreement signed is focuser on training, research collaboration and the exchange of expertise in key areas, such as flood management, water engineering, and hydro-informatics.
