The International Water Management Institute (IWMI) has appointed two senior researchers to anchor its Nigeria office, reinforcing its long-term commitment to advancing water governance, irrigation development and resilient agrifood systems in the country.
The appointments of Charity Osei-Amponsah, as the country focal point and senior regional researcher for Governance, Institutions and Inclusion, and Adebayo Oke, as the senior regional researcher for Next Generation Irrigation Systems, mark a significant step in strengthening IWMI’s presence following the official launch of its Nigeria office in April, 2025. Together, their expertise bridges policy, institutions and advanced irrigation engineering, positioning IWMI to support scalable, evidence-based solutions tailored to Nigeria’s diverse water and agricultural landscapes.
Meet our researchers
As the Country Focal Point, Charity Osei-Amponsah brings extensive experience in social science research, governance, institutional reform and inclusive development. Her work strengthens the policy and coordination frameworks necessary to translate technical solutions into sustainable national impact. Her role will help to reinforce IWMI’s collaboration with strategic partners in Nigeria
“IWMI’s presence in Nigeria is about building integrated, evidence-based solutions that connect water governance, irrigation development and inclusive agrifood systems,” said Osei-Amponsah. “Strengthening institutions, aligning policy with data and supporting participatory water management are essential to delivering solutions that respond to Nigeria’s realities.”
Complementing her water governance role, Adebayo Oke brings decades of experience in irrigation engineering, soil and water conservation, and agricultural systems design across West and Central Africa.
“Nigeria has significant water resources and irrigation potential, yet a large productivity gap remains,” Oke noted. “Advancing the agrifood system will require modern, affordable and inclusive irrigation solutions, from solar-powered pumping and farmer-led irrigation to improved reservoir and basin planning. These would be supported by strong technical capacity and data-driven tools.” His work will focus on scaling climate-resilient irrigation systems, promoting soil and water conservation, promoting irrigation and water management innovations, expanding dry-season pasture development production and supporting capacity building for climate adaptation for sustainable irrigation development.
Why water matters for Nigeria
Nigeria’s water resources are both abundant and unevenly distributed. From the Niger and Benue river systems to the country’s 12 hydrological basins, water underpins agriculture, livelihoods and economic growth. Yet despite an estimated irrigation potential of over 3 million hectares, less than 5% of cultivated land is irrigated. Furthermore, climate-related disasters like flooding and drought continue to constrain livelihoods, while pollution and infrastructure gaps impede resilience.
IWMI started working in Nigeria in 1988, when we signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Ahmadu Bello University to support farmers with managing irrigation schemes in Northern Nigeria. Building on this long-standing presence, establishing a dedicated office reflects the growing prominence of Nigeria within IWMI’s West and Central Africa strategy.
Areas of work in Nigeria from research to impact
IWMI’s work in Nigeria spans flood and drought management, digital innovations and water accounting, circular water and food economy initiatives, climate-resilient irrigation systems and water infrastructure governance. Under initiatives such as remote sensing for water productivity and drought monitoring platforms, IWMI has strengthened data-driven decision-making from farm to basin scale.
The Institute has also supported farmer-led irrigation, promoted solar-powered pumping systems, advanced soil and water conservation practices, and contributed to flood early-warning coordination mechanisms. Through governance-focused research in conflict-affected areas, IWMI has helped inform more inclusive and conflict-sensitive water development strategies.
These efforts reflect IWMI’s research-for-development model of combining science, partnerships and capacity strengthening to support implementation at scale.
A new phase of engagement
With senior leadership now based in-country, IWMI’s Nigeria office enters a new phase focused on deeper institutional partnerships, stronger technical support and measurable impact.
By linking water governance reform with next-generation irrigation systems, IWMI aims to help unlock Nigeria’s irrigation potential, strengthen water security and enhance agricultural productivity in ways that are inclusive, climate-responsive and economically viable.
The establishment of the office signals a long-term commitment to working alongside Nigerian institutions, researchers, financial institutions, farmers, development partners and other stakeholders to transform water challenges into opportunities for sustainable growth and resilient agrifood systems.
Learn more about our work in Nigeria.
