ENUGU: Amb. Amaka Nweke Receives Heroic Welcome in Enugu After Making History in Moroc

...Laud Governor Mbah’s Inclusive Governance and Support for Women

...Amb. Amaka Nweke Celebrates Gov Mbah’s Visionary Leadership, Dedicates Global Awards to the Governor

In a heart-stirring celebration that lit up the Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu on Tuesday, hundreds of excited women from various organisations stormed the arrival terminal in a colourful, emotional and unprecedented welcome for Ambassador Mrs Amaka Nweke JP, following her historic honours fron the XIX World Water Congress in Marrakech, Morocco. The grand reception, marked by cheers, banners, cultural displays and heartfelt tributes, became another powerful endorsement of Governor Peter Ndubuisi Mbah’s transformative leadership and his commitment to placing Enugu State on the global map.

Amb. Amaka Nweke, visibly moved by the overwhelming show of love, expressed heartfelt gratitude to the women and dedicated the honour to Governor Peter Ndubuisi Mbah, whom she described as the true architect of Enugu’s global breakthrough. She noted that every step of her journey, from the conception of the Water-City vision to the international recognition in Morocco, was made possible through the Governor’s visionary leadership, bold reforms, and unwavering belief in competence. She thanked him for entrusting her with responsibility, for empowering women to lead, and for creating the enabling environment that allowed her to stand confidently before the world. According to her, the award belongs to the entire state, but most especially to Governor Mbah, “whose courage, foresight, and transformative agenda lit the path that carried Enugu to the global stage.”

Amb. Nweke, who clinched the Overall Best Scientific Oral Presentation Award the first in 19 years returned to Enugu to a hero’s welcome from women groups led by Women Support Women Community Network (WOSCONET), Anambra Women General Assembly (AWGA), Kpakpando Women Support Group for Peter, and several other influential women-led organisations. Their presence was not only a show of solidarity but a symbolic celebration of excellence, resilience, and global recognition brought home by one of Enugu’s finest.

In the same remarkable period of her global recognition, Ambassador Amaka Nweke also received another distinguished honour on home soil as the Yoruba Community in Enugu State celebrated her with an Award of Excellence during their 2025 Cultural Day event. The award, personally presented by HRM, Engr. Isiaka A. Salmon, MNSE, PhD (the Ilufemuloye I), highlighted her exceptional contributions to public service, women empowerment, and inter-ethnic harmony. The ceremony, which was later broadcast on Radio Nigeria on December 6, 2025, further affirmed her growing influence and the widespread admiration for her impactful leadership across diverse communities.

While she appeared from the airport arrival exit, the atmosphere erupted with applause and chants, “Enugu to the World!” and “Ambassador Amaka Nweke, Our Pride!” Many of the women danced in colourful wrappers, holding placards celebrating her uncommon achievement, while others waved Enugu colours in honour of her historic feat.

Speaking on behalf of WOSCONET, the Acting National Coordinator described Ambassador Nweke’s performance in Morocco as “a proud moment for every woman” and “a testament to Governor Peter Mbah’s ability to identify brilliance, empower capacity, and elevate the best minds to lead global conversations.” She noted that Ambassador Nweke did not only represent Enugu State with distinction but also showcased to the world the bold transformation agenda of Governor Mbah, especially his unprecedented Water-City vision.

Representatives of AWGA, led by their executives, praised Governor Mbah for appointing Ambassador Nweke to strategic leadership positions within the Enugu State Local Government Service Commission. According to them, the global accomplishment has shown that the Governor’s choices are rooted in competence, innovation, and a desire to build a modern, globally respected Enugu. “She stood before the world and made all of us proud,” one of the leaders said, “but she also brought honour to the Governor who trusted her with responsibility. What she did in Morocco reflects the brilliance of his appointments.”

The Kpakpando Women Support Group for Peter also extolled Ambassador Nweke for her steadfast commitment to championing women in governance, technology, environment, and public service. They described her as a torchbearer for women advancement and a powerful example of how far a woman can rise when given the right support and platform. “She has lifted the bar for all of us,” their spokesperson said. “Her story is proof that Governor Mbah’s inclusive leadership is changing destinies and redefining the narrative for women in Enugu State.”

One after another, leaders of the various women groups took turns to highlight her impactful leadership, her dedication to promoting women’s participation in governance, her intellectual depth, and her ability to inspire the younger generation. They praised her humility, her courage, and her outstanding representation of Nigeria at the global gathering attended by world leaders, ministers, scientists, industry experts and policymakers from over 100 countries.

In their remarks, the women were unanimous in commending Governor Peter Ndubuisi Mbah, whose visionary policies, revolutionary investments in water infrastructure, and deliberate inclusion of competent women have created the enabling environment for such international honours. They noted that Ambassador Nweke’s success was a direct reflection of the Governor’s strategic thinking, his bold transformation agenda, and his commitment to making Enugu State a global reference point in innovation and sustainable development.

The electrifying reception ended with prayers, songs, and glowing tributes as the women pledged to continue supporting Ambassador Nweke and Governor Peter Mbah’s administration. The event was more than a welcome; it became a symbolic declaration that Enugu State, powered by capable women and visionary leadership, has truly stepped onto the world stage.

Ambassador Amaka Nweke’s return marked not just the homecoming of a global award winner, but the celebration of a woman who carried Enugu on her shoulders, and made it shine before the world.

In a historic moment for Enugu State and Nigeria, Ambassador Amaka Nweke has just been announced as the winner of the highly coveted “Best Scientific Oral Presentation” award at the ongoing XIX World Water Congress in Marrakech, Morocco. Her groundbreaking presentation, which brilliantly showcased Enugu State’s transformative journey from a historic Coal City to an emerging Water City under Governor Peter Ndubuisi Mbah, captivated global experts, ministers, development leaders, and top-tier policy influencers gathered at the world’s largest water governance event.

The hall erupted in applause as the announcement was made, with delegates praising her exceptional clarity, scientific depth, and innovative insights on nature-based water solutions. Her spotlight on Enugu State’s 120 million liters per day water infrastructure breakthrough, sustainability-driven policies, and community-centered approach earned admiration from the international community, positioning Enugu as a rising model in Africa’s water-sector renaissance.

Ambassador Nweke’s victory is not just a personal triumph, it is a monumental win for Enugu State, Governor Mbah’s administration, and Nigeria’s growing footprint in global environmental diplomacy.

...Enugu’s Breakthrough Began with the Election of Gov Peter Mbah Into Power In 2023

Enugu State once again took the global spotlight as Ambassador Mrs. Amaka Nweke JP, Member IV of the Enugu State Local Government Service Commission and Chairman of the Commission’s WASH Committee, delivered a resounding and widely applauded presentation at the XIX World Water Congress in Marrakech, Morocco. Her brilliant discourse, which positioned Enugu and Governor Peter Ndubuisi Mbah among the world’s boldest innovators in water management and urban resilience, attracted admiration from international experts, policymakers, and development partners gathered from over 100 countries.

Representing Enugu State and Nigeria with poise, depth, and strategic clarity, Ambassador Nweke championed an exceptional presentation that cast a bright light on the state’s ambitious transition from the historic Coal City to a modern Water City, a transformation driven by Governor Peter Mbah’s groundbreaking policies, infrastructural investments, and visionary environmental reforms. Her session, titled “Water and Nature: Innovative Solutions for a City in Nature, Using Enugu’s Coal City to Water City as a Case Study”, became one of the high points of the global congress.

In her special acknowledgements, Ambassador Nweke conveyed the goodwill of His Excellency, Governor Peter Mbah, extending heartfelt greetings to His Majesty, Sidi Mohammed bin Hassan Al-Alawi, King of Morocco, to the President of IWRA, Yuanyuan Li, and to all distinguished participants. She expressed gratitude to the Kingdom of Morocco for hosting the monumental event and to the International Water Resources Association (IWRA) for providing a global platform to exchange knowledge and shape the future of water governance and sustainability.

Her presentation meticulously traced Enugu’s origins as a coal-mining city, a history that left behind severe environmental scars such as deforestation, erosion, strained water resources, and increased vulnerability to water scarcity and seasonal flooding. She noted that rapid urban growth has magnified these challenges, making bold interventions not only necessary but urgent.

Against this backdrop, Ambassador Nweke powerfully highlighted Governor Peter Mbah’s remarkable strides in rewriting Enugu’s environmental story, showcasing several landmark initiatives that have placed the state at the forefront of water-sector innovation in Africa. Central to these achievements is the 120 million liters per day water scheme, which has elevated Enugu’s water production from a meagre 2 million liters to an impressive 120 million liters per day, directly serving over two million residents. She emphasized complementary projects including the 4.4MW gas-powered plant ensuring uninterrupted water supply, massive pipe-borne water expansion to eliminate tanker dependency, sustainability frameworks to ensure tariff transparency and affordability, as well as continued community engagement to safeguard and maintain water assets.

Ambassador Nweke further captured global attention when she unveiled the state’s forward-looking adoption of nature-based solutions under Governor Mbah’s directive and through the operational leadership of the WASH Division of the Local Government Service Commission. She articulated how Enugu is exploring Sustainable Urban Drainage Systems (SUDS),  integrating rainwater harvesting, green roofs, and urban wetlands restoration, as modern tools to combat flooding, improve water quality, and create greener, more resilient urban spaces. The detailed models she presented, including urban rainwater harvesting frameworks and wetlands revival strategies, were praised for their practicality and alignment with international best practices.

Her presentation also underscored the wide-ranging environmental, economic, and social benefits of Enugu’s Water City vision. She highlighted the state’s $100 million investment partnership with Austrian collaborators to modernize its water distribution network, and stressed the role of community participation, public accountability campaigns such as NEWARI, and supportive policy frameworks in building a sustainable urban ecosystem.

Participants at the Congress applauded her articulate breakdown of the key challenges inherited from the city’s coal-mining legacy, including infrastructural decay, population pressures, and the delicate balance between economic development and environmental sustainability, as well as the innovative solutions now being implemented to overcome them. Her emphasis on collaboration between government, the private sector, civil society, and global development partners resonated strongly with delegates seeking scalable African models for achieving water resilience.

During her presentation, Amb. Nweke also took a moment to commend the Network of Water Rights Initiative (NEWARI) for its unwavering partnership with the Enugu State Government in advancing water-sector reforms. She praised NEWARI’s active role in mobilizing communities, promoting accountability, and sustaining public engagement around water governance. According to her, the organization’s grassroots-driven campaigns and collaborative initiatives have significantly supported the state’s efforts to strengthen water infrastructure, improve service delivery, and uphold transparency. She emphasized that NEWARI’s contribution remains vital in ensuring that the government’s Water City vision is not only implemented but embraced and protected by the people it is designed to serve.

Ambassador Nweke’s session became a blueprint for many emerging cities, as she outlined clear pathways for replicating Enugu’s success: adopting holistic planning, investing in green infrastructure, expanding community-driven water governance, and bridging policy with implementation. She illustrated how these collective efforts not only enhance environmental sustainability but also improve livelihoods, create jobs, strengthen public health, and uplift the overall quality of life.

Her rousing conclusion proclaimed Enugu’s transformation as a paradigm shift, a living testament to the power of water as a catalyst for urban rebirth. She reaffirmed that through Governor Peter Mbah’s unwavering commitment, Enugu State is advancing a new era of resilience, innovation, and sustainable development, demonstrating that the future is not just anticipated but actively being built.

Through her brilliant representation, intellectual depth, and distinguished conduct at this high-powered international gathering, Ambassador Amaka Nweke not only elevated Enugu State’s global profile but also projected Governor Peter Mbah’s visionary leadership onto the world stage, leaving participants inspired and reinforcing confidence that Enugu’s “Water City” dream is already becoming a global model of urban regeneration in the 21st century.

The high-powered event attracted an impressive lineup of global dignitaries whose presence underscored the significance of the XIX World Water Congress, which includes the United Nations Secretary-General, whose remarks set the tone for global cooperation on water resilience. The host of the Congress, Dr. Nizar Baraka, Morocco’s Minister for Equipment and Water, warmly welcomed participants and reaffirmed his nation’s commitment to advancing sustainable water governance. Also present was Dr. Cheikh Tidiane Dieye, Minister for Hydraulics and Sanitation of the Republic of Senegal and President of the African Ministers’ Council on Water (AMCOW), who emphasized Africa’s rising leadership in water-sector innovation. Adding to the distinguished list was Dr. Mrs. Hannah Sao Kpato, Sierra Leone’s Minister for Water Resources and Sanitation, whose contributions highlighted the shared challenges and collaborative opportunities across West Africa. Their collective presence elevated the event, creating an atmosphere of global unity and high-level discourse.