…As Amb. Mrs. Amaka Nweke Presents Historic Award at Government House, Enugu
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!Enugu State on Thursday, January 8, 2026, recorded another landmark moment in its rapidly expanding global profile as the Governor of Enugu State, His Excellency, Barr. Peter Ndubuisi Mbah, formally received the prestigious Overall Best Scientific Oral Presentation Award won at the XIX World Water Congress in Marrakech, Morocco. The international honour has projected Enugu State and Nigeria at large onto the global stage of water governance and environmental sustainability.
The historic trophy was presented to the Governor at the Government House, Enugu, by Ambassador Mrs. Amaka Nweke JP, who represented Enugu State and Nigeria at the global congress and emerged overall winner among leading scientists, ministers, researchers, and policy experts from over 100 countries. The presentation marked the culmination of a remarkable journey that began with visionary leadership at home and ended with global validation abroad.
The path to this international recognition dates back to Governor Mbah’s assumption of office in 2023, when he boldly declared his resolve to transform Enugu from its historic identity as the Coal City into a modern Water City. Confronted with decades of water scarcity, infrastructural decay, and environmental degradation largely associated with coal mining, the Governor initiated one of the most ambitious water-sector reforms in Nigeria’s history.
Central to the reform agenda was a dramatic increase in water production—from a mere 2 million litres per day to an unprecedented 120 million litres per day—supported by massive investments in water treatment plants, reticulation networks, tariff reforms, community engagement, and sustainable governance structures. The reforms were further strengthened by the establishment of a 4.4MW gas-powered energy facility, ensuring uninterrupted water supply across the state.
It was against this transformative backdrop that Ambassador Mrs. Amaka Nweke JP, a Member IV of the Enugu State Local Government Service Commission and Chairman of its WASH Committee, was selected to represent Enugu State and Nigeria at the XIX World Water Congress, organised by the International Water Resources Association (IWRA) under the High Patronage of His Majesty, King Mohammed VI of Morocco. Her participation signalled growing international interest in Enugu’s water reforms, but events at the congress surpassed all expectations.
In Marrakech, Ambassador Nweke delivered a compelling, data-driven scientific presentation titled “Water and Nature: Innovative Solutions for a City in Nature, Using Enugu’s Coal City to Water City as a Case Study.” With clarity, depth, and originality, she examined Enugu’s challenging environmental history, outlined the pressures of urbanisation and water insecurity, and showcased Governor Mbah’s Water-City agenda as a practical, scalable, and forward-looking model for Africa and other developing regions.
Her presentation highlighted nature-based solutions, sustainable urban drainage systems, rainwater harvesting, wetlands restoration, community participation, and international investment partnerships driving Enugu’s transformation. The session drew widespread acclaim from the global audience, with ministers, development partners, scientists, and water experts describing Enugu’s model as a “shining example of modern water governance in Africa.”
The admiration extended to diplomatic circles, as officials of the Government of the Kingdom of Morocco openly commended Governor Mbah’s reforms, describing Enugu’s transformation as one of the most inspiring governance stories presented at the congress. For Nigeria, the moment represented a rare and powerful instance of international recognition driven by subnational innovation.
The high point of the congress came when Ambassador Amaka Nweke was announced as the Overall Best Scientific Oral Presentation Award winner, a feat not achieved by any delegate in the 19-year history of the World Water Congress. Emerging top among 65 research submissions, 46 oral presentations, and 19 scientific posters, her victory was widely described as historic, merit-based, and globally validated. Reflecting emotionally on the moment, she recounted how “confusion turned to tears of joy,” describing the achievement as a miracle made possible by divine grace and the visionary leadership of Governor Mbah.
Her return to Nigeria further underscored the national significance of the achievement. At the Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu, she was received by hundreds of women drawn from various organisations and communities, who welcomed her with songs, dances, and solidarity chants. The women described the award as proof that Enugu’s leadership is anchored on competence, vision, inclusivity, and global relevance.
In a symbolic and deeply significant gesture, Ambassador Nweke formally presented the prestigious trophy to Governor Peter Ndubuisi Mbah, acknowledging him as the architect of the policies that made the global recognition possible. While handing over the award, she dedicated it entirely to the Governor and the people of Enugu State, emphasising that her success in Morocco was a direct reflection of his courage, foresight, and unwavering commitment to transformational governance.
Receiving the trophy, Governor Mbah described the award as a collective victory for Enugu State and Nigeria. He reaffirmed his administration’s determination to sustain investments in infrastructure, innovation, and people-centred development, noting that Enugu’s rising global profile demonstrates how purposeful leadership at the subnational level can reposition an entire nation.
What began as a policy vision in Enugu has now evolved into a global reference point, projecting Nigeria as a country capable of exporting ideas, solutions, and leadership in critical sectors such as water governance and environmental sustainability. Through this achievement, Enugu State has not only told its story to the world but has also helped redefine Nigeria’s narrative on the global stage.
With the presentation of this historic trophy at Government House, Enugu State has once again affirmed that under Governor Peter Ndubuisi Mbah, the state is not merely participating in global conversations—it is shaping them. From Enugu to Marrakech and back home again, the message is unmistakable: Enugu is rising, Nigeria is shining, and the world is paying attention.