{Kigali — About 27 journalists in the Nile Basin countries yesterday started a weeklong Media Training Workshop on water and environmental issues organised by the Nile Basin Initiative (NBI).}
The NBI Executive Director, Engineer Innocent Ntabana, said here yesterday that the purpose of the training was to equip the reporters with factual knowledge and information that promotes sustainable basin-wide Nile cooperation.
“The training aims at encouraging interaction and cooperation between journalists and communication officers from the ministries in charge of water affairs in the NBI member states,” said the NBI Executive Director.
The NBI is intergovernmental partnership of 10 Nile Basin countries, namely Burundi, DR Congo, Egypt, Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda, South Sudan, The Sudan, Tanzania and Uganda. Eritrea participates as an observer.
The NBI aims at providing a forum for consultation and coordination among the Nile States for the sustainable management and development of the shared Nile Basin water and related resources for win-win benefits.
According to Engineer Ntabana, the training involves a field tour to an NBI facilitated investment project here namely Shango- Mirembo interconnector, to showcase the benefits of Nile cooperation between the NBI member states.
Ms Secilia Ndabigeze, one of the participants at the training, said the training will be an ideal platform for exchanging experience from one another, saying the training will enhance her journalist’s competence in reportage of water and environmental issues.
“I will share the knowledge with my colleagues at work when I am back home. The knowledge will facilitate our reportage of water issues,” said the participant from Tanzania. The major north-flowing river in northeastern Africa, Nile is generally regarded as the longest river in the world and it is the primary water source of Egypt and Sudan.
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