The Federal Government of Nigeria, through the Federal Ministry of Water Resources and Sanitation, in collaboration with the Embassy of Hungary, has hosted the Nigerian–Hungarian Water Forum in Abuja—marking a significant milestone in bilateral cooperation between both nations in water engineering, flood control, and climate resilience.
According to a statement signed by Mrs. Funmi Imuetinyan, Director of Information and Public Relations, on Tuesday, the high-level event was attended by the Honourable Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Engr. Prof. Joseph Terlumun Utsev; the Ambassador of Hungary to Nigeria, His Excellency Lóránd Endreffy; the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, represented by Engr. Dr. Nicholas Dumebi Madu; the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Mr. Richard Pheelangwah; and representatives from academia, government agencies, the private sector, and development partners.
In his welcome address, Prof. Utsev lauded the deepening Nigeria–Hungary collaboration, describing it as “a critical milestone in the longstanding and mutually beneficial cooperation between our two nations in water resources management, engineering excellence, and climate resilience—a partnership rooted in shared vision and mutual respect.”
He emphasized the need for innovative, scalable, and technology-driven solutions to tackle Nigeria’s water sector challenges, noting that Hungary’s global reputation in water engineering and wastewater treatment provides a strong foundation for knowledge exchange, capacity building, and technical cooperation.
“Our engagement today is not just timely, it is visionary,” the Minister stated. “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.”
Prof. Utsev added that the newly signed academic partnership between Nigerian and Hungarian institutions will enhance the capacity of Nigerian engineers and researchers through advanced training and joint research initiatives. This, he said, aligns with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which prioritizes universal access to safe drinking water, improved sanitation, and national water security.
He further urged participants to translate goodwill into concrete results, saying: “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 benefit our citizens.”
In his opening remarks, Ambassador Endreffy described the Forum as a “historic milestone” in strengthening bilateral cooperation in water management and infrastructure development.
He praised Nigeria’s proactive stance in pursuing adaptive and sustainable solutions, reaffirming Hungary’s readiness to serve as a reliable technical partner in the country’s water sector.
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The Forum featured technical presentations from experts of both nations, focusing on sustainable water management, flood control, and climate resilience. Notable resource persons included Dr. Abduljalal Danbaba, Director General of the National Water Resources Institute (NWRI), Kaduna; Dr. Márk Honti, Researcher at the Hungarian Academy of Sciences and Professor at Budapest University of Technology and Economics (BUTE); Mrs. Zubaida Umar, Director General of NEMA (represented by Air Commodore A.Y. Oyong); and Umar Ibrahim Mohammed, Director General of the Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency (NIHSA).
A key highlight was the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between NWRI, Kaduna, and BUTE, focusing on training, research collaboration, and expertise exchange in flood management, hydro-informatics, and water engineering—further cementing the shared commitment of both nations to sustainable water security and climate resilience.
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