Abuja – Sweden’s Ambassador to Nigeria, Svante Kilander, on Friday said that water was essential to a healthy and flourishing economic environment.
Kilander said this at a National Press Conference and the Launch of the Stockholm Junior Water Prize (SJWP) in Abuja.
He said there was need for clean water to sustain healthy environment and boost entrepreneurship to encourage commercial climate.
“When we talk of a healthy environment, it is impossible without water because it is the key to good sanitation, personal and environmental hygiene.
“It is also a means to promote potential in entrepreneurs because there is hardly any life endeavour that is undertaken without the use of water.
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“Well, I think the prize will serve as a call on Nigerian youths to take part in the project once they are aware’’, Kilander said.
He, therefore, wished the student competitors success and also wished that Nigeria would have a successful post- election period.
Mr Anthony Akpan, President of the Pan African Vision for the Environment (PAVE), organisers of the conference, said that the SJWP was more than a competition.
“It is a major event that has a long-term human and environmental impact.
According to him, 63.3 million Nigerians do not have access to safe water.
Akpan, who was represented by Mr Temiloluwa Ogunniyi, Programme Manager of PAVE, called on all Nigerians to join hands to stop the looming water crisis in the country.
The competition, which commerces in August, will feature young people between the ages of 15 and 20 in both the national and international levels.
Earlier, Dr Klaus Gautsch, Head of Section, Social Governance, leader of the Delegation of the European Union (EU), said the EU had played a very active role in the water sector.
He acknowledged the action taken by the Stockholm International Water Institute (SIWI) in partnership with the Pan African Vision for the Environment.
PAVE is a Lagos-based non-profit NGO established with the aim of promoting sustainable development through research, policy dialogues, workshops, advocacies and consultancy services. (NAN)
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