Nigeria contributes $1m counterpart funding to AfDB’ s AWF

Nigeria contributes $1m counterpart funding to AfDB’ s AWF
By Ogechi Okorondu  /   November 30, 2015 

As part of its commitment to boosting water facilities in Nigeria and other African countries, the Federal Government has pledged a contribution of $1 million to African Water Facility, AWF.
 President Muhammadu Buhari made the pledge over the weekend in Abuja while speaking at the 10th anniversary of AWF. An African Development Bank AfDP hosted initiative, AWF was created by the African Ministers’ Council on Water, AMCOW, in response to the need to catalyse the development of the water sector by increasing the number and quality of sustainable water projects to meet water development goals throughout the continent.
 The President, represented by the Minister of Water Resources, Engr. Suleiman Adamu, stated that Nigeria being the giant of Africa, would take the lead by releasing the sum of one million US Dollars as the initial contribution to the project.
 He said, “As is our custom to take the lead in worthy causes, I am pleased to announce that the Nigerian government hereby pledges to contribute the sum of $1 million,” urging all stakeholders from within the public and private sector development partners and NGOs to play their role efficiently.
 He also enjoined African governments to accord increased priority to the water sector in their budgetary allocations, adding: “we must deploy our collective efforts to develop and encourage innovative ways of financing water sector investment to meet the enormous investment needs in the sector.”
In his remarks, the Vice President, Africa Water Facility, Ali Abou-Sabaa, commended the effort of the Nigerian government in taking the lead in the donation process. He added that African Development Bank, AfDB has committed substantial resources to the Africa Water Facility for the development of water infrastructure in Africa.
 The Executive Secretary, African Ministers Council on Water, AMCOW, Mr. Bai Mass TAAL described Nigeria as the father of African Water Facility, saying the initiative of AMCOW which gave birth to African Water Facility was initiated in Nigeria.
 AWF is an initiative of African Ministers’ Council on Water, AMCOW to mobilize resources for the water and sanitation sector in order to meet up with the MDGs/SDGs water and sanitation related goals and the African Vision 2025. The fund is being managed by AfDB, which is supporting projects aimed at building resilience to climate change and promoting the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions.
 As part of its climate change strategy, the AWF prioritises projects that feature water harvesting, conservation, storage, recycling and re-use, and the use of renewable energy to power water stations and infrastructure.