Nigeria

Nigeria is home to diverse ecosystems, including the Niger and Benue Rivers, which are vital for the country’s water supply and agricultural systems. These rivers, along with various wetlands, support a large population, but are increasingly threatened by pollution, over-extraction, and climate change impacts like flooding and drought. Despite these challenges, efforts are being made to improve water resource management, enhance agricultural resilience, and address environmental degradation for more sustainable development.

IWMI in Nigeria

IWMI’s work in Nigeria focuses on building climate resilience and improving water management systems in the face of challenges like climate change, conflict, and migration. The institute supports small-scale farmers and local communities by promoting sustainable agricultural practices and water resource management. This includes developing digital agriculture tools to improve decision-making, enhancing the role of women and youth in agribusiness, and fostering inclusive, climate-smart agricultural innovations to enhance food security and resilience.

Additionally, IWMI plays a significant role in improving integrated water resource management in Nigeria’s Niger River Basin, where the focus is on climate change adaptation and mitigation. The organization works to enhance transboundary cooperation for water management, building the capacity of local and national institutions to address water security challenges. By integrating climate-smart agriculture and strengthening flood and drought management, IWMI contributes to the long-term resilience of ecosystems and communities, ensuring a sustainable water and agricultural future.

Country representative

Charity Osei-Amponsah

Charity Osei-Amponsah

Senior Regional Researcher – Governance Institution and Inclusion, Country Focal Point – Nigeria
Adebayo Oke

Adebayo Oke

Senior Regional Researcher – Next Generation Irrigation

Projects in Nigeria

Latest Nigeria news

IWMI strengthens activities in Nigeria with two senior appointments

New leadership boosts partnerships and drives scalable, evidence-based solutions for water and irrigation systems …

Amidst food crisis, Nigerian farmers drive irrigation solutions

A multi-stakeholder dialogue platform in Nigeria takes ambitious strides to advance irrigation systems created and managed by farmers …

IWMI launches platform to boost farmer-led irrigation in Nigeria

The platform will serve as a hub for research, innovation and policy engagement to unlock irrigation development and strengthen resilience for Nigerian smallholder farmers …

March-April 2025 Research Journal Roundup 

Roundup of research, journal and other academic articles from March and April 2025 …

Latest Nigeria publications

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Factsheet

IWMI in Nigeria – fact sheet

International Water Management Institute | November 30th, 2025
International Water Management Institute
Open Access
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Report

Scaling Agtech Innovation Bundles Across African Markets

International Water Management Institute | April 29th, 2026
Omondi, Joshua; TK, Christi; Nkosi, Mahlatse; Kamanda, Josey
Open Access
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Report

Stakeholders’ Validation and Capacity Assessment for Gender Integration in Nigeria’s Water Sector Policies and Governance

International Water Management Institute | April 6th, 2026
Appiah, Sarah; Osei-Amponsah, Charity; Nicol, Alan
Open Access
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Report

Stakeholder Profiling and Innovation Scaling Demand Signaling in Nigeria

International Water Management Institute | April 2nd, 2026
Osei-Amponsah, Charity; Minh, Thai Thi; Atampugre, Gerald; Oke, Adebayo; Cofie, Olufunke O.
Open Access