By Ahmad Muhammad Danyaro
Water problem has defied many administrations in Nigeria due to lack of political will to muster viable sound water policies and programmes to tackle the perennial problem head on and population explosion especially in the urban and semi –urban areas of the country.
Nigeria’s potential to meet its water needs for domestic, agricultural and industrial purposes is never in doubt. Paradoxically, the state is facing intractable scarcity of this vital commodity despite the huge investment in the sector.
To practice good water resource management for safe ,adequate, and sustainable water supply services in the country through good practice and governance as well as reduce waterborne diseases ,reduce poverty and increase productivity of citizens make the President Muhammadu Buhari to assign Engineer Suleiman Hussaini Adamu to captain Ministry of Water resources in the new cabinet.
One of the most aspects of human life is to pursue successful life career. Some people made it through day and night struggles. In fact to some, succeeding in as a single career is enough while to others perceived that they have to engage in many careers that by the time they look back at their past records they would certainly agree with themselves that they were among those who did a lot in emancipating the human race.
The new Minister of Water Resources, Engr Suleiman is one of the few technocrats cum politicians who stood firm to ensure that they are not swallowed by the position they occupy, or the power they muster, the chance they got, the excuses they may give, the financial status they may possess, and the institutions they may have as defenders .Many others in his shoes, got intoxicated by the unlimited paraphernalia of power and ultimately got swallowed shrewdly by their positions thereby, forgetting their roles as servants and representatives of the people.
Adamu, an accomplished public servant, consummate Engineer and educationist was born 53 years ago- specifically on April 19, 1963 in Kazaure Local Government Area of present Jigawa State.
He is married with children and grandchildren. He had a humble beginning, which prepared him to face greater challenges of life and he is a man of distinction who has excelled in his chosen career field of Engineering.
Articulate Adamu graduated from Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, in 1984 with a Bachelor of Engineering (Second Class Upper Honours) in Civil Engineering; and also obtained a Master of Science degree in (Construction) Project Management from University of Reading, United Kingdom in 2004.
His career in the public sector began at the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA) in 1985, where he supervised roads and bridges construction in Abuja Central Area Project; and at the Water Resources and Engineering Construction Agency (WRECA), Kano State, where he designed, supervised and managed several water and dam projects.
Engr Adamu later co-founded Integrated Engineering Associates (IEA), a leading firm of civil/structural, electrical, mechanical and environmental engineering consultancy where he has been involved in the planning, design, supervision and management of several buildings and civil engineering projects in Nigeria covering a wide spectrum of engineering and infrastructural works like office/commercial structures, roads and water supply schemes.
Remarkably, between 1995 and 2000, following his secondment by IEA as Principal Consultant under a partnership agreement with Afri-Projects Consortium, Management Consultants to the Petroleum (Special) Trust Fund, Suleiman was actively involved in the planning and preparation of several national infrastructural projects in the health, education, transportation, agriculture, water resources and energy sectors.
At implementation stage he served as Project Manager on several projects, notably under the PTF Urban/Semi-Urban, Regional and Rural Water Supply Programmes, National Farm Power Machinery Rehabilitation Programme and National Waterways Development Project (dredging of River Niger).
He was winner of the Nigeria Ports Authority prize for the Best Final Year Student in Civil Engineering, 1984.Sulaiman, a core professional is a Registered Engineer and currently the National Vice President of Association of Consulting Engineering in Nigeria (ACEN). He is also a member of the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) and Fellow, Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE).He served on the governing council of Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria, COREN (2006-2009) and is sitting on various committees of ACEN and NSE.
Alhaji Sulaiman is a policy researcher and political administrator.
He served as National Vice Chairman (North West), for the defunct Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), from 2010 – 2013; and had served in leading positions in several party committees and Presidential Campaign Councils of Buhari-Okadigbo (2003), Buhari-Ume-Ezeoke (2007), Buhari-Bakare (2011), and Buhari-Osinbajo (2015). He co-prepared The Buhari Programme 2003, The Buhari Programme 2007 and The Buhari Programme for Change 2011.As a blue bloodied Prince Sulaimanis a member of Kazaure Emirate Council, and was conferred with the traditional title Danburam Kazaure in 1998.
Its is imperative for the new Minister to developed a new water policy based on the goal six of the sustainable development goal of water and sanitation.
The goal is aiming to achieve universal and equitable access to safe and affordable drinking water for, improve water quality, substantially increase water use efficiency across all sectors, implement integrated water resources management at all levels, support and strengthen the participation of local communities in improving water and sanitation management among others.
Danyaro wrote from Cavendish University, Uganda.
