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– Conference Proposes Policy-Science Collaboration to Safeguard River Benue Ecosystems
– Balancing Fisheries, Flood Risk, Tourism & Climate Resilience in River Basin Use
– Women, Youth & Local Communities Urged to Lead Conservation & Innovation
The Faculty of Environmental Sciences at Rev. Fr. Moses Orshio Adasu University (MOAUM), in partnership with the Environment and Safety Management Institute and civil society groups, hosted the first International Conference on River Benue and Sustainable Development in the 21st Century from September 9-12, 2025. More than 200 participants—including academics, government agencies, and development organisations—discussed the major threats facing River Benue: climate change, flooding, land degradation, unsustainable fishing, and farmer-herder conflicts. Presenters emphasized integrating scientific research with policy and practical solutions—such as flood risk mapping, sustainable river basin development practices, and approaches to restoring riparian vegetation.
A key consensus from the conference was that River Benue offers vast socioeconomic potential—from fishery livelihoods and inland water transport, to tourism and agriculture—as long as resource use is managed equitably and sustainably. Critical resolutions included: boosting collaboration between academia, government, civil society and local communities; ensuring women and youth are meaningfully included; mainstreaming climate adaptation and disaster risk reduction into river basin policy; and strengthening technology and innovation (including geospatial tools) to monitor ecological health and guide decision-making. These actions are now slated to feed into ongoing policymaking and advocacy to reposition the river not just as a natural asset, but as a driver of sustainable development for Benue State and beyond.
