The 16th Nile Day 2022 commemorations in Dar es Salaam on Tuesday, expects more than 1,500 people from African and foreign countries.
Nile Day is an annual event held in commemoration of the establishment of the unprecedented Nile Basin Initiative (NBI) on February 22, 1999, by ministers in charge of water affairs in the Nile Basin countries.
It offers Basin citizens an opportunity to come together to celebrate the benefits of Nile cooperation and exchange experiences, views and ideas on topical issues related to the cooperative management and development of the common Nile Basin water and related resources.
Anthony Sanga, Tanzania’s permanent secretary in the Ministry of Water, in a news conference stated that Nile Day will be marked by revisiting the best ways of managing and developing the shared Nile waters and related resources for win-win benefits.
“Today, we celebrate the 23rd birthday of the Nile Basin Initiative. It was established on 22nd February 1999 right here in Dar es Salaam…I, therefore, like to consider Tanzania and this city the mother of the NBI.” Eng. Sylvester Matemu, Executive Director, NBI.
He said the commemoration is also an occasion for participants to appreciate the rich and diverse cultures which exist within the Nile Basin.
Sanga said the theme for the Nile Day 2022 is: “The Nile: Our Heritage for Peace and Prosperity”.
The event is attended by ministers in charge of water affairs in the Nile Basin countries, representatives from NBI member states embassies in Tanzania and officials from ministries whose activities relate to the management and development of the shared water resources such as water, environment, energy, agriculture, foreign affairs and finance.
NBI member states include Burundi, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Egypt, Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda, South Sudan, Sudan, Tanzania and Uganda. Eritrea participates as an observer.