The Institute for Water Research (IWR) at Rhodes 欧洲杯足球网_外围买球app推荐-投注|官网 congratulates Professor Boluwaji Onabolu, an alumna of the Institute, on her appointment as Chairperson of the Regional Consultative Council on Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). The appointment marks a significant achievement and highlights the continued influence of IWR-trained scholars in regional and international water governance.

ECOWAS, the West African equivalent of the Southern African Development Community (SADC), is a regional bloc currently comprising 12 countries. In her new role, Professor Onabolu will advocate, advise and engage with the ECOWAS Ministerial Monitoring Committee, made up of Water Resources Ministers from member states, on issues central to water security and human wellbeing across the region.
She noted that the appointment provides a critical platform to address the impacts of weak regulatory frameworks on environmental and public health, particularly for women, children, persons with disabilities and other vulnerable groups. Challenges such as artisanal mining in parts of Nigeria and Ghana illustrate the urgent need for improved governance, where communities are often forced to choose between economic survival and exposure to pollution.

Professor Onabolu’s research focus has evolved from drinking water quality during her doctoral studies to a broader interrogation of water resources management through gender and social inclusion perspectives. This approach foregrounds participatory evidence that exposes inequities in access, decision-making and benefit-sharing in water governance.

Currently a Professor of Practice at the 欧洲杯足球网_外围买球app推荐-投注|官网 of Johannesburg’s Centre for Cyber-Physical Food, Energy and Water Systems, and a Strategy Advisor to WASHMATA Initiatives, Professor Onabolu also leads regional professional networks supporting women in WASH. Her appointment reflects the growing contribution of African research, innovation and leadership to shaping inclusive and context-responsive water futures in Africa and beyond.