UNESCO CROSSCUTTING PROJECT ON “VIRTUAL LABORATORIES FOR DRYING LAKES IN AFRICA, THE MIDDLE EAST AND CENTRAL ASIA”

PART A (Main Report)

EVALUATION OF EXISTING ICT AND RESEARCH CAPACITIES AT THE UNIVERSITY OF MAIDUGURI AND THE LAKE CHAD RESEARCH INSTITUTE, MAIDUGURI TOWARDS PARTICIPATION IN THE PROJECT

Prof. O. A. Bamiro

Faculty of Technology

University of Ibadan

Ibadan, Nigeria

femi.bamiro@skannet.com

oabamiro@theroughdiamond.com

oabamiro@lbs.edu.ng

obamiro@yahoo.com

Tel 08023151513

Sponsored by

UNESCO Contract No. 450000570 of 4/12/2002

December 2002

Acknowledgement

The UNESCO Contract No. 450000570 for the mission is acknowledged. Also acknowledged are the useful and insightful preliminary discussions with Prof. Fola Osotimehin, Head, Science Systems Management Unit, Division of Science Analysis and Policies of UNESCO. I am indeed grateful to Dr. Bukar Bababe, the Focal Point for the Project at the University of Maiduguri, who made an excellent arrangement for my visit and worked assiduously to ensure the success of the mission. And finally, the fellow scientists at both Institutions who displayed the usual enthusiasm of academics for frontier projects such as the present project on VL for drying Lakes. To these scientists I say ‘you represent the hope of Africa’.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

TITLE PAGE

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT ……………………………………………… 2

TABLE OF CONTENTS ………………………………………………. 3

PREFACE …………………………………………………………….. 4

SECTION 1: EXECUTIVE SUMMARY OF FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS

1.1 Executive Summary of Findings ………………………… …… 5

1.2 Recommendations ………… …… 9

1.3 Contact Addresses of key personnel in the Institutions visited …………. 11

SECTION 2: THE MEETINGS AND DISCUSSIONS DURING THE

MISSION TO MAIDUGURI AND ABUJA

2.1 Visit to Maiduguri …………………………………………………… 13

2.2 Visit to Abuja ……………………….. …… 14

SECTION 3: MAJOR FINDINGS AND OBSERVATIONS

3.1 University of Maiduguri…………………………………………………… 15

3.2 Lake Chad Research Institute ……………………….. …… 18

3.3 Federal Ministry of Water Resources, Abuja……………………………… 18

3.4 National Information Technology Development Agency, Abuja…………. 19

Annexure I: ACTIVITIES DURING THE MISSION TO MAIDUGURI

AI.1 Detailed Programme of Activities ……………………………………. 20

AI.2 List of Participants at the Presentation of the VL for Drying Lakes

Project at the University of Maiduguri ……………………………… 21

AI.3 List of Participants at the Presentation of the VL for Drying Lakes

Project at the Lake Chad Research Institute…………………………… 22

Annexure II: EXISTING RESEARCH MANPOWER IN THE TWO INSTITUTIONS

AII.1 List of Research Scientists involved with the Centre for Arid Zone

Studies, University of Maiduguri ……………………………………. 23

AII.2 List of Research Scientists at the Lake Chad Research Institute……. 24

Annexure III: PUBLICATIONS AND REPORTS BY CENTRE FOR

ARID ZONE STUDIES (CAZS), UNIMAID

AIII.1 Publications ……………… ……………………………………. 25

AIII.2 Reports ………………. ………………………….…. 26

Annexure IV: PHOTOGRAPHS OF EVENTS DURING THE MISSION … 27

Annexure V: SLIDES USED FOR THE PRESENTATION OF THE

PROJECT DURING THE MISSION ………………..… 31

PREFACE

The Consultant, according the Contract, is expected to undertake a mission to the University of Maiduguri (UNIMAID), the Lake Chad research Institute (LCRI), the Federal Ministry of Water Resources (FMWR) and the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), all in Nigeria. This is to determine the degree of readiness of UNIMAID and LCRI to participate in the Virtual Laboratories for the Drying Lakes project while briefing FMWR and NITDA on the Project. The Contract stipulates, among others, the evaluation of the following during the visit to the University of Maiduguri:

The activities of the Centre for Arid Zone Studies located in the University.
Existing Research Programs, in general, and also of relevance to the Lake Chad Basin.
Existing research manpower of relevance to drying lakes.
Funding of research projects in the university.
Level of ICT development (computers, IT manpower, telecommunication infrastructure, Internet connectivity, etc.).
Software development capability
Linkage, if any, to other institutions – local and international
Existing platforms for the dissemination of research results – journals, seminars, workshops, etc.
Degree of readiness to participate in the VL project

The mission was undertaken between December 15 and 20 year 2002. The report of the findings is presented in two parts. This is due to the fact that the project has two main interlocking components: one, the Virtual Laboratories, which is ICT-driven; and two, the Drying Lakes, which is research-driven. The main report, presented herein as Part A, deals with the overall mission findings particularly in respect of items i-iv and vii-ix above, which serve to determine institutional research capacity. Part B, dealing with the report of the evaluation of existing ICT infrastructure in UNIMAID and LCRI and the detailed requirements of these institutions to participate in the virtual laboratories project, i.e. items v, vi and ix, has been submitted earlier under a separate cover.

Section 1 is an executive summary of findings and recommendations in respect of the above terms of reference for the mission, based on the methodology for handling the tasks of the mission (involving meetings, site visits and discussions) as presented in Section 2 and the Major Findings as presented in Section 3.

SECTION 1

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY OF FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS

This is an executive summary and recommendations emanating from the detailed findings and observations by the Consultant as presented in Section 3 of this Main Report and also Part B, presented under a separate cover, detailing the specific requirements of the institutions for ICT equipment.

1.1 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY OF FINDINGS

To ensure that no important aspect of the issues in the above terms of reference (T.o.Rs) is omitted, the summary of findings is presented below thematically according to the T.o.Rs for the mission.

T.o.R (i): The activities of the Centre for Arid Zone Studies located in the University.

a) Since its establishment by the UNIMAID in 1987, the Centre for Arid Zone Studies (CAZS) has been involved with several research projects addressing different problems in the arid zones including the Lake Chad Basin.

b) CAZS is now a multidisciplinary research and training centre with about 28 research scientists with diverse areas of expertise of relevance to the solution of problems in the Lake Chad Basin through participating in targeted researches.

c) The Centre is involved in the following six broad areas of research, each coordinated by a team of scientists in the relevant fields: Arid zone Ecology and Agro-forestry; Hydrology, Hydrogeology and Geomorphology; Climatology and Meteorology; Arid zone Agriculture and Rural Development; Human and Animal Health; and Social-Economics.

d) More than twenty inter-related research projects were funded at the Centre during 1992/1994 in the areas of water resources, rangeland and livestock resources, environment and resource monitoring, agricultural resources and human resources of the Sahel. Some of these studies are still continuing but a lot of observations have already been made, data showing some trends collected and some conclusions have already been drawn on the problems being investigated. This has generated a lot of research results of practical applications and also several research publications and reports.

e) CAZS has capability for Geographic Information System (GIS)/Remote Sensing (RS). This has been deployed to assist, for example, the North East Arid Zone Development Programme (NEAZDP) in preparing land unit and topographic maps. A number of joint field researches especially on-farm trials have been carried out between CAZS and NEAZDP. The Lake Chad Basin Commission (LCBC) is already exploring the possibility of assistance by CAZS in developing its (LCBC) GIS/RS.

T.o.R (ii): Existing Research Programs, in general, and also of relevance to the Lake Chad Basin

Some of the research programmes of relevance to the Lake Chad Basin being conducted by outfits visited during the mission are:

At UNIMAID

a) Federal Ministry of Environment/CAZS Linkage: Drought and Desertification Control

b) Japanese International Co-operative Agency/Federal Ministry of Environment: Peruvian-Algarroba Field Trials

c) National Tree Nursery Development Programme: Participation in Project Activities

d) Federal Ministry of Agricultural and Rural Development: Training Workshop on Gum-Arabic Tapping Techniques in five (5) Northern States.

e) Ground water modelling

f) Historical meteorological data collection and storage

g) Land and water resources database

h) Water resources management in the Lake Chad Basin

At Lake Chad Research Institute

a) Direct use of ground water for irrigation

b) The use of Lake Chad Surface water for irrigation

c) Crop production/soils of receding water of flooded areas around Lake Chad.

d) Crop production/residual moisture contained in vertisol soils around the Lake.

At the Federal Ministry of Water Resources, Abuja:

a) Inter-basin water transfer from River Congo to Lake Chad.

b) Through the Global Environmental Facility (GEF), the Ministry is involved with projects at the Nguru Wetlands as well as Lake Chad. The Wetlands project has also attracted the interest of the International Union or the Conservation of Nature, an international NGO.

c) Impact of the several dams located in the Kano/North East regions of the country on the wetlands and the Lake Chad.

d) Satellite-based global weather monitoring unit for data acquisition on a 24-hour basis.

[It is rather unfortunate there has been no direct, mission-oriented research input by any of the two key research institutions to the solution of the problems of the Lake Chad Basin through sponsorship by or collaboration with the Lake Chad Basin Commission.]

T.o.R (iii): Existing research manpower of relevance to drying lakes

There are 28 research scientists at the UNIMAID involved with different projects at the CAZS with potentials to carry out researches of relevance to the Lake Chad Basin. LCRI has 12 senior scientists.

T.o.R (iv): Funding of research projects in the university.

Research at CAZS is funded by:

a) The Federal Government of Nigeria through the National Universities Commission

b) The Federal Ministry of Environment which has a linkage with CAZS

c) Japanese International Co-operative Agency

d) National Tree Nursery Development Programme

e) Federal Ministry of Agricultural and Rural Development

f) European Union

Research at LCRI is funded by:

a) The Federal Government through the Federal Ministry of Agric. And Natural Resources

b) International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT)

c) World Bank-Assisted National Agricultural research Project (NARP).

T.o.R (v): Level of ICT development (computers, IT manpower, telecommunication infrastructure, Internet connectivity, etc.).

ICT development at UNIMAID received a great impetus from the funding by the Education Tax Fund of Nigeria with the University now having facilities for reasonable Internet connections. UNIMAID can now boast of:

a) A VSAT linked to PamSat at the University Computer Centre (UCC)

b) A Base Station with 150ft mast/Sectoral Antenna at the UCC

c) Workstations equipped with 40 networked intelligent computers at the UCC providing access to the Internet

d) A Compaq 350ML Proliant Server at the UCC

e) A backup server at the UCC

f) Radio Links to three other sites on the campus also equipped with workstations

g) A net server to be installed soon for dial-up connection to the internet

There is 17-man NUNet/ICT Committee headed by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor with responsibility for the development of ICT and networking with other universities in the country. There is a University Computer Centre (UCC) with responsibility for the operations of the systems. UCC has the following:

Ø The Head of UCC

Ø Four Computer Programmers

Ø General Internet Supervisor

Ø Internet Supervisors and Assistants

Ø Computer Technicians

Ø Network Administrator

Ø Other Supporting IT personnel (mainly Junior Staff)

[It is pertinent to note the different cadres of personnel need training to handle their various responsibilities including maintenance and troubleshooting.]

ICT is relatively undeveloped at LCRI which can boast of only 12 personal computers.

However, the Institute has a dial-up connection to the Internet.

T.o.R (vi): Software development capability

Software development capability is at its infancy with only a few individual researchers possessing capability for the development of simple applications. This is expected to pick up with the increasing availability of computing facilities.

T.o.R (vii): Linkage, if any, to other institutions – local and international

CAZS has strong linkages to:

a) Silsoe College, Cranfield University, UK

b) LCRI

c) North East Arid Zone Development Programme (NEAZP)

d) Federal Ministry of Environment

e) Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria

LCRI is linked to:

a) CAZS

b) Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria

c) Agricultural Development Programmes (ADPs)

d) Ministry of Agriculture and Natural Resources

e) International Centre for Maize and Wheat Improvement (CIMMYT), Mexico

f) National Agricultural Extension and Research Liaison Services (NAERLS), Zaria, Nigeria

g) International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT)

h) International Institute for Tropical Agriculture (IITA), Ibadan, Nigeria

i) International Board for Soil Research and Management (IBSRAM)

T.o.R (viii): Existing platforms for the dissemination of research results – journals, seminars, workshops, etc.

Researchers in both institutions have published widely in several local and international journals. They have also organised international conferences on various subjects, some of which are directly relevant to the problems in the Lake Chad Basin.

T.o.R (ix): Degree of readiness to participate in the VL project

CAZS and LCRI have fairly well established to undertake research, training and consultancy activities related to the VL and the Drying Lakes project based on resource of experienced professionals and researchers who have in-depth knowledge of the region. CAZS has been providing information on all aspects of arid zone development through:

a) The GIS/RS Laboratory

b) Library and Documentation Centre

c) Regional Climatic and Hydrological databases

d) Directory of Research for Arid Zone in Nigeria.

The growing IT culture and the serious commitment of the University’s administration to ICT development provide unequalled and, I daresay, highly desirable environment for the nurturing of the proposed VL project even beyond the frontiers of the present project on drying lakes.

1.2 RECOMMENDATIONS

Preamble

In making these recommendations, one has taken due cognizance of the following advertised objectives of the Virtual Laboratories for the Drying Lakes in Africa, Middle East and Central Asia, to wit:

v To enable researchers, no matter their geographical locations in the world, to collaborate and fully participate in and benefit from international scientific research;

v To provide researchers in the three regions harbouring drying lakes (Africa, Central Asia, and Middle East) with ICT tools to enable them operate as virtual laboratories; and

v To provide a platform for the integration of research efforts towards solving the problems of the three drying lakes – Lake Chad, Dead Sea, and Aral Sea.

The pervasive roles of researchers in the three regions are unambiguous in the implementation of the project, whose impacts are expected to transcend the project itself, particularly in the African sub-region with limited penetration of ICT. In other words, one expects researchers in the regions to take the centre stage in the scheme of things and not the users of generated research results. This brings to focus the on-going debate (needless to my mind) as to whether UNIMAID should play the role of a focal point or the Lake Chad Basin Commission (LCBC), as partially discussed during the Aman meeting.

Engr. Sani Adamu, the Executive Secretary of LCBC, as a follow-up of his earlier arguments during the Aman Meeting, has continued to make a case for LCBC as the focal point by virtue of the mandates of the Commission for the development of the Lake Chad Basin on behalf of the participating countries, which, according to him, will not accept a focal point for research located in any of the countries. I hasten to observe that scientists do not relate in their profession like politicians! There are already cases of research and training among the institutions in the region irrespective of the tepid (compared to the armed conflicts in at least one of the regions involved in this project) relationships in the political terrain. For example, there is collaboration between the Centre for Trans-Saharan Studies at UNIMAD and some institutions and individuals in the region: there is link with the University of N’djamena where one of the Vice-Chancellors was once a student and later staff of UNIMAID; there are links by the Centre with the University of Ngaoudere (Cameroon) and University of Niamey (Niger) with ethnic-Kanuri scholars such as Prof. Zakariya Bakarema.

The issue, to my mind, is how LCBC perceives its role in the conception and execution of the several research works thrown up by the multifaceted problems of the Basin. I submit that either now, or in the farthest future, LCBC can never attract in-house, and really it is not expected to, the array of required research manpower to tackle in a systematic manner the research problems of the Basin. It must necessarily depend on the array of research institutions in the region with which it must, as a matter of deliberate policy, form formal linkages to define and implement the research agenda. Furthermore, the plan of LCBC to invest in ICT including a VSAT is very much welcome as it will facilitate contacts with the Commission. Only to note, also, that the issue is not the possession of such facilities, but, the available research manpower and the extent of deployment of such equipment for the conduct of collaborative research in the sense of virtual laboratories.

Finally, I shall like to observe that what is said above should not, by any means, be construed to mean the exclusion of LCBC as a participation institution in the project. On the contrary, it has an important role to play particularly in articulation and funding of research as well as extension of results to the target groups. VL, however, is more for those involved in the execution of research and I believe that UNIMAID, with the array of senior researchers identified in this report, providing leadership for research project execution by the army of postgraduate research students in the university, is in a better position to act as the Focal Point for the present project.

Be that as it may as I now proceed to make the following recommendations:

General Recommendations

UNESCO should expedite actions at perfecting the various P2P tools for deployment to the identified participating research institutions.

UNESCO should evolve the necessary institutional framework for the proper identification and coordination of research to achieve its set objectives for the drying lakes in the three regions, particularly in Africa.

Recommendations specific to the Lake Chad Basin

UNESCO should equip, based on its choice out of the two possible scenarios presented in Part B of the Mission Report, the Centre for Arid Zones Studies (CARZ) at UNIMAD to enable it participate as one of the research institutions and also play the role of a Focal Point in the sense of the VL Project.
Based on his considerable proven research and management experience, coupled with the earlier recommendation by the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Maiduguri, Dr. Bukar Bababe, the present Director of CAZS, should be recognised as the Focal Point for the project at UNIMAID.
UNESCO should sponsor similar missions to other institutions in the region, most especially, the Lake Chad Basin Commission to articulate their levels of preparedness to participate in the project.
UNESCO should sponsor a take-off workshop involving the participating institutions, including LCBC, and other stakeholders to define priority areas of research and integrated approach for their execution by various research institutions and even individuals in the region. In this respect, the researchers at UNIMAD have made the following preliminary suggestions of research projects, arranged in the order or priority, based on their individual and collective experiences of the problems of the Lake:

Survey of the literature on the Lake Chad Basin
Status of water availability in the Basin
Monitoring of recession of the Lake Chad and development of baseline data in the areas of agricultural activities, population dynamics, livestock mobility, and climate change.
Lake Chad water recharge mechanisms using geo-chemical tools to monitor groundwater recharge in the Basin.
Modelling of groundwater system using for example the MODFLOW computer software program.
Assessment of non-military security threats in the region and conflict resolution mechanisms.
Management of the water in the Lake Chad area for irrigation purposes.
Promotion of water saving and water conservation systems for efficient water use in the region.
Physical, Economic, Environmental, Institutional and socio-political implications of the proposed Inter-basin Water Transfer: River Congo to Lake Chad.

1.3 CONTACT ADDRESSES OF KEY PERSONNEL IN THE INSTITUTIONS VISITED

The addresses of contacts in the different Institutions visited for the purpose of this project are tabulated below.

ADDRESSES OF CONTACTS

INSTITUTION	NAME	POSITION	ADDRESS
University of Maiduguri	Dr. Bukar Bababe	Project Focal Point and Director, CAZS	Centre for Arid Zone Studies, University of Maiduguri, P.M.B. 1069, Maiduguri, Nigeria Tel 076-231730 (Vice-Chancellor’s Office) bbababe@ecnx.net
University of Maiduguri	Mr. Peter Ogedebe	Head, University Computer Centre	University Computer Centre, University of Maiduguri, P.M.B. 1069, Maiduguri, Nigeria Tel 076-231730 (Vice-Chancellor’s Office) ogedebe@hotmail.com
Lake Chad Research Institute, Maiduguri	Dr. W. B. Ndahi	Director	yaysib@infoweb.abs.net Emails@yaysib.com
Lake Chad Research Institute, Maiduguri	Mr. M. U. Omeje	Rep of the Director	yaysib@infoweb.abs.net Emails@yaysib.com
Federal Ministry of Water Resources, Abuja	Engr. Charles Olu Adegbilero	Deputy Director, Dept. of Planning, Research & Statistics	Phone 09-2348441 Block A Old Federal Secretariat Area 1, P.M.B. 159 Garki Abuja
Federal Ministry of Water Resources, Abuja	Mr. J.O. Adeniyi	Deputy Director, Dept. of Planning, Research & Statistics	Phone 09-234586 Block A Old Federal Secretariat Area 1, P.M.B. 159 Garki Abuja
National Information Technology Development Agency, Abuja	Prof. G. O. Ajayi	Director General/CEO	Plot 695, Port-Harcourt Crescent, Off Gimbiya St., Area 11, Garki, Abuja Phone: 08033105938 gajayi@nitda.org gajayi@yahoo.com

SECTION 2

THE MEETINGS AND DISCUSSIONS DURING THE MISSION

The mission involved visits to Maiduguri (University of Maiduguri and Lake Chad Research Institute) and Abuja (Federal Ministry of Water Resources (FMWR) and National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA)).

2.1 Visit to Maiduguri

The implemented programme of activities during the visit to Maiduguri is presented in Section AI.1 of Annexure I. Dr. Bukar Bababe, appointed by the Vice-Chancellor as the Focal Point for the project, made an excellent preparation and ably played the role of the FP attesting to his international experience. Dr. Bababe is the Director of the Centre of Arid Zone Studies (CAZS) of the University of Maiduguri (UNIMAID). The following activities took place during the visit:

I. Discussion of the Project with the Vice-Chancellor ably represented by Prof J.D. Amin, the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Administration).

II. Presentation of the concept of Virtual Laboratories (VL) and the Drying Lakes Project to scientists at the University of Maiduguri (see Annexure V for the slides used for the presentation). The presentation was attended by 27 people (reference Section AI.2 of Annexure I for the list of participants and Annexure IV for the photographs of events) including many research scientists, the Director of Computer Centre, the University Librarian, and the Administrative Secretary of CAZS. Also present from outside the university were Dr. M. U. Omeje representing the Lake Chad Research Institute (LCRI) and Engr. Baba Alkali representing the Chad Basin Development Authority (CBDA), both institutions also located in Maiduguri. The presentation was followed by extensive discussions.

III. Visits to evaluate facilities available at:

Ø The Computer Centre

Ø CAZS at the Dilara Building Complex

Ø The Geographical Information System (GIS)/Remote Sensing (RS) facility at the Science Complex

Ø The Ramat Library

Ø The new CAZS building under construction

IV. Further discussion with research scientists at the CAZS of the Project and its implementation in the light of available facilities.

V. Presentation of the concept of Virtual Laboratories (VL) and the Drying Lakes Project to scientists at the Lake Chad Research Institute (LCRI). The presentation was attended by 8 research scientists (see Section AI.3 of Annexure I and photographs in Annexure IV).

VI. Evaluation of ICT facilities at the LCRI

VII. Wrap-up meeting with scientists representing UNIMAID, LCRI and CBDA.

2.2 Visit to Abuja

National Information and Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Abuja

A meeting was held with Prof G. O. Ajayi, the Director of NITDA (see Annex IV), to acquaint him with:

the VL Project for the Drying Lakes with particular reference to Lake Chad;
the situation on ground at Maiduguri in respect of ICT equipment and infrastructure vis-à-vis the Project; and
the proposed additional equipment to enable UNIMAID and LCRI participate in the Project.

Also discussed was the possible area of support by the Agency for the Project.

Federal Ministry of Water Resources (FMWR)

At the DMWR meeting was held with the Department of Planning, Research and Statistics (DPRS) and also the Department in charge of dams. At DPRS, discussion was held with Engr. Charles Olu Adegbilero and Mr J. O. Adeniyi, both Deputy Directors. Dr. Adanu, also a Deputy Director, was briefed at the department in charge of dams.

SECTION 3

MAJOR FINDINGS AND OBSERVATIONS

3.1 UNIVERSITY OF MAIDUGURI (UNIMAID)

The University administration is fully committed to the Project and is ready to provide support for its successful implementation.
ICT is on a very high pedestal at UNIMAID with a high-powered committee seeing to its development headed by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor and strongly supported by the Vice-Chancellor. The on-going installation of ICT facilities (VSAT, masts, antennae, Workstations, etc.) at the University Computer Centre and other places on the campus is being funded by the Educational Tax Fund (ETF) of Nigeria.
The University has adequate ICT facilities (details covered in Part B of the Mission Report) to support the take-off of the Project with some of the developed P2P tools of communication under the Project.
UNIMAID has a formidable team of researchers with experiences very relevant to the development of ‘researched’ solutions as opposed to ‘administrative’ solutions to the problems of Lake Chad. UNIMAID, under the aegis of CAZS, can boast of at least 28 researchers with their areas of expertise indicated in Section AII.1 of Annexure II.
CAZS, established in 1987, is now a multidisciplinary research and training centre located in the Southern edge of the Sahel of Northeast Nigeria and dedicated to sustainable development of the region, including Lake Chad.
To achieve the set objectives, the Centre is involved in the following six broad areas of research, each coordinated by a team of scientists in the relevant fields:

(a) Arid zone Ecology and Agro-forestry:

· Studies on the soil, moisture and vegetation changes in relation to traditional land use patterns.

· Relation of over-cultivation and over-grazing to desertification.

· Role of plant forms in the protection of land areas.

· Rehabilitation of degraded lands.

(b) Hydrology; Hydrogeology and Geomorphology:

· Studies on the changes in the surface drainage pattern.

· Detailed studies of the underground aquifers of the region.

· Studies on geomorphologic characteristics in relation to water storage possibilities.

(c ) Climatology and Meteorology:

· Detailed forecasting from interpretation of weather satellite data.

· Investigation into the long-term variations in the climate and ecology of the zone.

· Interpretation of radar pictures, land sat imagery and aerial photography.

(d) Arid zone Agriculture and rural development:

· Integrates all the studies in a-c above into agricultural development of the zone.

(e) Human and Animal Health:

· Integration of information on malaria and other infectious water-borne diseases and their control in the region.

· Prevention and control of livestock diseases in the zone.

(f) Social-Economics:

Studies in Socio-economic aspects of ecological problems, which may arise as a result of human interaction with the environment, especially regarding c and d above.

CAZS was established by UNIMAID with initial funding from the Federal Government. The first external funding came to the Centre in 1990 from the European Union as part of Sub-Programme 4 (Research and Training) of the North East Arid Zone Development Programme (NEAZP). The Centre also obtained some funding commitment from the Federal Environmental Protection Agency (FEPA) of Nigeria, now the Federal Ministry of Environment, to address the problem of drought and desertification.
Through the help of the European Union, CAZS formed a very strong linkage with Silsoe College, Cranfield University, UK. The linkage (October 1990 – September 1995) was beneficial to CAZS in the areas of manpower development and joint field researches particularly in the area of water resources. Under the staff development, young members of staff were trained and conducted applied research of local relevance with about eight of them obtaining their Ph.Ds in different areas.
Researchers at CAZS, Lake Chad Research Institute (LCRI) and the Chad Basin Development Authority (CBDA) have been involved with collaborative research projects and publications in the region. [For example, the book titled “WHEAT IN NIGERIA: Production, Processing and Utilisation” arose from joint research involving UNIMAID, LCRI and the Ahamadu Bello University, Zaria.]
CAZS has capability for Geographic Information System (GIS)/Remote Sensing (RS). This has been deployed to assist, for example, the North East Arid Zone Development Programme (NEAZDP) in preparing land unit and topographic maps. A number of joint field researches especially on-farm trials have been carried out between CAZS and NEAZDP.
More than twenty inter-related research projects were funded at the Centre during 1992/1994 in the areas of water resources, rangeland and livestock resources, environment and resource monitoring, agricultural resources and human resources of the Sahel. Some of these studies are still continuing but a lot of observations have already been made, data showing some trends collected and some conclusions have already been drawn on the problems being investigated. This has generated a lot of research results of practical applications and also research publications and reports, some of which are presented in Annexure III.
The Hadejia-Nguru Wetlands Conservation Project (HNWCP) based in Nguru was established with the primary objective of conserving the natural and agricultural resources of the Wetlands. The wetlands stretch from Hadejia to Nguru and extend to the Lake Chad. This important area is located in the arid part of Nigeria and serves as the lifeline of the people living along the floodplains. CAZS has been working closely with HNWCP in the area of research to find better ways of utilizing water and other resources of the wetlands to ensure their sustainability.
Since holding the First International Conference on Research and Development in the arid zone in 1994, CAZS has been maintaining a computer directory of research organizations and individual researchers working in the Shelia region of Nigeria in its information system. This will facilitate future exchange of materials and research collaboration.
On-going activities at CAZS include:

· Federal Ministry of Environment/CAZS Linkage: Drought and Desertification Control

· Japanese International Co-operative Agency/Federal Ministry of Environment: Peruvian-Algarroba Field Trials

· National Tree Nursery Development Programme: Participation in Project Activities

· Federal Ministry of Agricultural and Rural Development: Training Workshop on Gum-Arabic Tapping Techniques in five (5) Northern States.

· The construction of a new building for CAZS funded by the Federal Government through the National Universities Commission. The complex is designed to house all the programmes of the Centre by providing spaces for offices, laboratories, workshops, cartographic rooms, stores, herbarium, consultation rooms and conference rooms. The building is expected to be completed in 2003.

The Ramat Library of the university is to be fully equipped to provide Internet services to its users – students, staff and researchers. The library will be part of the on-going Virtual Library Project for Nigerian Universities being handled by the National Universities Commission with the involvement of UNESCO. Through this, users will have access to books, journals, theses databases, maps, photos, videos, and periodicals of other libraries in the world.
Interactions of the Lake Chad Basic Commission (LCBC) with researchers of the UNIMAID have been on ad-hoc and individual basis with no concrete research relationship. However LCBC had just contacted CAZS for help in the operation of their (LCBC’s) GIS laboratory. If this materializes it will be the first step by LCBC to form meaningful linkage with the university after several years of co-existence in the region. This probably attests to the rather poor linkage of LCBC to the research system in the region.
UNIMAID also has the Centre for Trans-Sahara Studies (CTSS) established in 1986 to advance the frontiers of knowledge through research and publications in Arts, Humanities and Social Science disciplines. In response to the suffering being experienced by the population in the Chad Basin, particularly after the 1973 drought, the Centre has now developed a Centre-Wide Research under the theme “Coping Mechanisms”. This is to explore ‘how man is coping’ in the region. The Centre is organizing the “Mega Chad Conference 2003” under the theme ‘Man and the Lake’ to be held at the UNIMAID from December 1-10, 2003. The Conference, which will address the various aspects of the Lake Chad Basin, is being organized jointly with Universitat Bayreuth, Germany.
UNIMAID has a lot to offer the VL and the Drying Lakes project while also standing to gain tremendously. For example, the three researchers involved with groundwater simulation are looking forward to the possibility of using the MODFLOW Software for ground water simulation. Even CTSS looks forward to the possible deployment of VL to handle the pre-conference discussions and exchanges for its forthcoming Mega Chad Conference 2003.

3.2 LAKE CHAD RESEARCH INSTITUTE (LCRI)

LCRI, established in 1975, now has as its primary mission the genetic improvement of millet, wheat and barley. In consequence, it is involved in research in the following areas in the Lake Chad Basin:

Ø Direct use of ground water for irrigation

Ø The use of Lake Chad Surface water for irrigation

Ø Crop production/soils of receding water of flooded areas around Lake Chad.

Ø Crop production/residual moisture contained in vertisol soils around the Lake.

LCRI collaborates with a good number of national and international institutions such as UNIMAID, NEAZDP, International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT), etc. in the fulfilment of its mandate.
LCRI was one of the 18 agricultural based Research Institutes that took part in the World-Bank assisted National Agricultural Research Project (NARP) in the country. It was through the project that the Institute acquired all its ICT infrastructure, particularly the 12 computers being used in the different sections.
LCRI has about 15 research scientists with different areas of specialization as shown in Section AII.2 of Annexure II.
LCRI has a number of sophisticated scientific equipment for its research. Typical examples are the Atomic Absorption Spectrometer, Flame Photometer, Amino Acid Analyser, and Spectro Photometer.

3.3 FEDERAL MINISTRY OF WATER RESOURCES (FMWR), ABUJA

1. The Department of Planning, Research and Statistics (DPRS) of FMWR is the focal point to take care of Nigeria’s interests in the activities of the regional bodies such as the Lake Chad Basin Commission and the Niger Basin Authority.

2. DPRS is actively involved with the on-going project for inter-basin water transfer from River Congo to Lake Chad. Information garnered from this mission is to the effect that the project is meeting with resistance by one of the participating countries.

3. The Ministry collaborated with LCBC to produce the ‘Livestock Atlas of the Lake Chad Basin’, a very nicely produced compendium.

4. Through the Global Environmental Facility (GEF), the Ministry is involved with projects at the Nguru Wetlands as well as the Lake Chad. The Wetlands project has also attracted the interest of the International Union for the Conservation of Nature, an international NGO.

5. There are several dams in the Kano/North East regions of the country whose operations have residual impacts on Lake Chad. These dams are being closely monitored by the department in charge of dams at FMWR.

6. The Ministry has a satellite-based global weather monitoring unit for data acquisition on a 24-hour basis.

7. Convinced of the need for co-ordinated research and development to solve the problems in the Lake Chad Basin, the FMWR is very favourably disposed towards the VL for the Drying Lakes Project while advising that the LCBC be involved.

3.4 NATIONAL INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT AGENCY (NITDA) ABUJA

1. NITDA is an agency of the Federal Government operating under the Federal Ministry of Science and Technology. The Agency has the responsibility for the actualization of the mission of the National Information Technology Policy. Prof Ajayi, who is the present Director of NITDA, is a member of the Development Team for the P2P communication tools.

2. In respect of the VL Project, Prof Ajayi noted that there had not been any workshop after the development of the P2P tools software, which was quite some time ago. He then made the following suggestions:

Ø A workshop for the P2P developers to ensure the proper launching of the tools.

Ø A regional workshop on the use of the tools for the three Drying Lakes’ research institutions.[There may even be one just for Lake Chad].

Ø P2E is required in the African region although this may come later.

3. NITDA’s involvement with the VL project will be in the form of technical input since it has limited funds coming from government. As a matter of fact NITDA is still to secure allocation in the 2003 National Budget.

ANNEXURE I

ACTIVITIES DURING THE MISSION TO MAIDUGURI

AI.1 DETAILED PROGRAMME OF ACTIVITIES DURING THE MISSION VISIT OF PROFESSOR O.A. BAMIRO AT THE UNIVERSITY OF MAIDUGURI FROM 15th – 18th DECEMBER, 2002.

Sunday, 15^th December, 2002.

7.00 pm - Arrival from Lagos by Albarka Air and to check-in at lake Chad Hotel, Maiduguri.

Monday, 16^th December, 2002

10.00 – 11.30 am- Meeting with the Vice-Chancellor and Scientists to present mission paper and reports on the virtual laboratories (VL) and the three(3) Drying Lakes Project.

12.30-1.30 - Visit facilities at:

a) The Computer Centre, University of Maiduguri;

b) The CZAS Office at the Dilara Building.

c) The GIS/RS at the Science Complex;

d) The Ramat Library; and

e) The new CAZS building under construction.

2.00 – 3.00 pm - Lunch

3.00 – 4.00 pm - Interaction at CAZS office between the visitor and the scientists/the ICT staff on specific of the project.

Tuesday, 17^th December, 2002.

9.30 – 1.30 pm - Meeting with the Director, LCRI and scientists (details to be provided by the institute)

2.00 – 3.00 pm - Lunch

3.00 – 4.00 pm - Wrap-up Meeting at CAZS with the Representatives of UNIMAID/CBDA/LCRI.

Wednesday, 18^th December, 2002.

Depart from Maiduguri to Abuja/Lagos.

AI.2 LIST OF PARTICIPANTS AT THE PRESENTATION BY PROF O.A BAMIRO ON VIRTUAL LABORATORIES FOR DRYING LAKES, HELD ON MONDAY, 16^TH DECEMBER, 2002 AT 10.00 AM IN THE COUNCIL/SENATE CHAMBER OF THE VICE-CHANCELLOR’S OFFICE COMPLEX, UNIVERSITY OF MAIDUGURI.

S/N	NAME	SPECIALISATION	ADDRESS
1.	Dr. Bukar Bababe	Soil/Water Management	CAZS, Unimaid
2.	Engr. Baba Alkali	Soil and Water	CBDA, Maiduguri
3.	Mr. M.U. Omeje	Soil Fertility	LCRI, Maiduguri
4.	Dr. B.H. Kabura	Horticulturist	Unimaid
5.	Dr. A.Y. Rabadu	Theriogenologist	Vest. Surg/Unimaid
6.	Dr. D.M. Gwary	Plant Pathology	CAZS/ crop science
7.	Lawan Bundi	MIS/ICT	Office of the V.C.
8.	Dr. B.A. Madu	Math. Scientist	Dept. of Math.
9.	Professor Kyari Tijani	CTSS Political Science	CTSS, Unimaid
10.	Abbas M. Gisilanbe	Climatologist	Dept. of Geography
11.	J.L. Musa	Technical Adviser	CAZS, Unimaid
12.	Joseph Tumba	NUNET/ICT	Ramat Library
13.	Dr. P.S. Amaza	Agric Economist	Unimaid
14.	Professor O.A. Folorunso	Soil Physics/Soil Water	Agric/Unimaid
15.	Professor F.A. Adeniji	Agric (Soil/Water Engnr.)	Engr./ Unimaid
16.	Dr. (Engr.) A.G. Alkali	Civil/ Water Engr.	Engr./ Unimaid
17.	S.C. Alkali	Geology	Science/Unimaid
18.	Dr. I.B. Goni	Hydro-Geologist	Science/ Unimaid
19.	Kolomi Y. Ali	Hydro-Geologist	CAZS, Unimaid
20.	Peter M. Ogedebe	Computer Centre	Unimaid
21.	Abba Gana Shettima	Rural Sociologist	Sociology/ Unimaid
22.	Mrs. Shatu D. Gwary	GIS Officer	CAZS,Unimaid
23.	Mrs. Ella T. Carew	Admin. Secretary	CAZS, Unimaid
24.	Mr. Akpan Asukwo E.	CAZS Librarian	CAZS,Unimaid
25.	Dr. A.B. Alhassan	Soil and Water Mgt.	Soil Sc., Unimaid
26.	Dr. A.M. Kundiri	Soil and Water Mgt.	Soil Sc., Unimaid
27.	Dr. I.D. Mohammed	Agro-nPastoral	Animal Sc., Unimaid

AI.3 LIST OF PARTICIPANTS AT THE PRESENTATION BY PROF O.A BAMIRO ON VIRTUAL LABORATORIES FOR DRYING LAKES, HELD ON TUESDAY 17^TH DECEMBER, 2002 AT THE LAKE CHAD RESEARCH INSTITUTE

S/N	NAME	SPECIALISATION
1.	M.U. Omeje	Soil Scientist
2.	Dr. O.G. Olabanji	Agronomist
3.	A.T.S. Bibinu	Agronomist
4.	C.O. Uga (Mrs.)	Food Scientist
5.	Abubakar Mustapha Alhaji	Plant Breeder
6.	Mohammed Isa	Agronomist (Seed Office)
7.	Z.G.S. Turaki	Pathologist
8.	Angarawa Ignatius	Breeder (millet breeder)

ANNEXURE II

EXISTING RESEARCH MANPOWER AT THE INSTITUTIONS

AII.1: LIST OF RESEARCH SCIENTISTS CONNECTED WITH THE CENTRE FOR ARID ZONE STUDIES WITH POTENTIALS FOR PARTCIPATION IN THE VL FOR DRYING LAKES PROJECT

S/N	NAME	SPECIALISATION	GRADE
1	Dr. DAURA Mala Mohammed	Ph.D Geography/Water Resources Survey and Inventory	Associate Professor
2	Prof ZARIA, Lamido Tanko	Dr. of Veterinary Medicine	Professor
3	Dr. KABURA, Bubar Hamidu	Ph.D Horticulture	Senior Lecturer
4	ALHASSAN, Abdullahi Bala	Ph.D Soil and Water Management	Senior Lecturer
5	MOHAMMED, Ibrahim Dukku	Ph.D Agropastoral Sciences	Senior Lecturer
6	ALI, Kolomi Yusuf	M.Sc. Geology (Hydrogeology)	Assistant Research Fellow, Centre for Arid Zone Studies
7	GONI, Baba Ibrahim	Ph.D Hydrogeology	Lecturer
8	GISILANBE, Abbas Mohammed	M.Sc. Geography	Lecturer
9	Prof. ADENIJI, Francis Adeyemi	Professor of Agricultural (soil & Water) Engineering	Professor
10	ALKALI, Samaila Crah	M.Sc. Applied Geophysics	Senior \|Lecturer
11	SHETTIMA, Abba Gana	Rural Sociology, Environment, Population and Gender issues	M.Sc Agric. Extension Services (Rural Sociology)
12	Dr. BABABE, Bukar^***	Ph.D Soil Science	Reader in Soil Science
13	Dr. KUNDIRI, Abubakar Musa	Ph.D (Soil and Water Management)	Senior Lecturer
14	Prof. ONYEYILI, Patrick Azubuike	Ph.D Pharmacology	Professor of Pharmacology/Toxicology
15	Prof. FOLORUNSO, Olatunji Ayodele	Ph.D Soil Physics, Soil and Water Management	Prof of Soil Physics
16	Dr. A. K. Grema		Agronomist
17	Malam KOLOMI Yusuf Ali		Hydrologist
18	Dr. A. G. Alkali		Civil and Water Engineering
19	Malam ADAM Kolo		Rural Energy Specialist
20	Dr. U. M. Maryah		Climatologist
21	Dr. S. S. Adamu		Public Health Specialist
22	Dr. I. D. Mohammed		Agro-pastoral Specialist
23	Dr. H. A. Kuje		Ecologist
24	Mr. Ibrahim Yerima		Rural Energy Specialist
25	Dr. Idris Audu		Water Conservationist
26	Mr. Mohammed Hassan		Water Resource Engineer
27	Mrs. S. D. Gwary		GIS Officer
28	Mr. Anthony Dami		GIS Specialist

*** Focal Point

AII.2: LIST OF RESEARCH SCIENTISTS AT THE LAKE CHAD RESEARCH INSTITUE, MAIDUGURI.

S/N	NAME	SPECIALISATION
1.	Dr. W.B. Ndahi	Weed Scientist
2.	Prof. R.O. Fadoyami	Weed Scientist
3.	Mr. M.U. Omeje	Soil Scientist
4.	Dr. O.G. Olabanji	Agronomist
5.	Dr. K.W. Gwadi	Entomologist
6.	Mr. Z.G.S. Turaki	Pathologist
7.	Mr. D.A. Anogie	Agric. Ext./Excons Specialist
8.	Mal. Abubakar Mustapha	Breeder
9.	Mr. I.I. Agarawai	Breeder
10.	Mal. Mohammed Isa	Agronomist
11.	Mal. Yakubu Hahaya	Breeder
12.	Mr. Alhassan Bibinu	Agronomist
13.	Mal. Maina Ibn Mohammed	Agronomist
14.	Mrs. Cecilia O. Uga	Food Scientist
15.	Alh. Shehu A. Arfo	Soil Scientist

ANNEXURE III

PUBLICATIONS AND REPORTS BY THE CENTRE FOR ARID ZONE STUDIES (CAZS)

AIII.1 Publications

Gadzama, N. M. (1991) Sustainable Development in Arid of Nigeria. Keynote address to Nigerian Environmental Study/Action Team (NEST) Workshop at Kano, September, 1991. Published as Centre for Arid Zone Studies, Monograph Series No. 1 University of Maiduguri Press 1995.
Gadzama, N. M. and Maryah, U. M. (1992) Climatic Chance in North-Eastern Nigeria: the CAZS experience with reference to the IGBP – related research proceedings of the International Workshop of the Regional Climate Centre, MEDIAS on the Mediterranean Basin and Sub-Tropical Africa, Jourlouse, France 17-20 February, 1992.
Lawan, A. I. (1991) Land Cover Mapping for the Yobe River Floodplain from Landsat TM Data. M.Sc. Cranfield University.
Abdalla, J. D. (1994) The Evaluation of Satellite Image in a Geographic Information System (GIS) for Monitoring Land Cover Changes in a Semi-Arid Area of North-Eastern Nigeria, Ph.D. Thesis, Cranfield University.
Grema, A. K. (1994) Productivity of Millet – Cowpea intercrop in North-East Nigeria. Ph.D. Thesis Cranfield University.
Alkali, A. G. (1995) Groundwater Recharge to the Alluvial Aquifer of the Yobe River. Ph.D. Thesis, Cranfield University.
Kundiri, A. M. (1995) Soil, Land Management and Crop suitability in a semi-arid environment: a case study of the Yobe River Fadama in North Eastern Nigeria. Ph.D. Thesis, Cranfield University.
Alhassan, A. B. (1996) Water Management for Crop Production on the Lowland Soils of the Manga Oases, North Eastern Nigeria. Ph.D. Thesis, Cranfield University.
Lawan, A. I. (1996) Application of High Spatial Resolution Data for Land Use and Land Cover Mapping in Northern Nigeria. Ph.D. Thesis, Cranfield University.
Maryah, U. M. (1997) Climatic variability and rangeland productivity in the arid zone of Yobe State, North Eastern Nigeria. Ph.D. Cranfield University.
Murry, N. J. A. (1997) A study of socio-economic factors which affect the adoption of Agricultural Technology in the North East Arid Zone. Ph.D. Thesis, Cranfield University.
Ugherughe, P. O. (1994) Towards improving the rangeland and livestock resources of the semi-arid zone of Nigeria. Lead paper presented at the International Conference on Research for Development in the Arid Zone of Nigeria, Maiduguri 19^th-25^th June 1994.

AIII.2 Reports

Buahin, G. K. A. et al. (1994) Integrated Pest Management (IPM) Manual.
Buahin, G. K. A. and Donli, P. O. (1994) Survey of pest and diseases of rainfed crops in the North East Arid Zone Development Programme Area.
Kwari, J. D., Shukla, U. C. and Nwaka, G. I. C. (1994) On Farm Soil Fertility/Crop response studies in rainfed farming in the North East Arid Zone Development Programme Area of Nigeria.
Folorunso, A.O. and Dunham, R.J. (1994) Rehabilitation of Yau Irrigation Scheme: survey to assess limitations due to soil salinity.
Carter, R.C. Alkali, A.G. and Agbo, J.U. (1994) Water resources research support of development in the North East Arid Zone of Nigeria.
Audu, I. And Hess, T.M. (1994) A simulation of the potential benefits of water conservation in the North East Arid Zone of Nigeria.
Folorunso, O.A., Usman, H. Sukla, U.C., Hess, T.M., and Dunham, R.J. (1994). Rainwater harvesting for efficient water utilization by rainfed crops in semi arid North Eastern Nigeria.
Odo, P.O., Kabura, B.H, and Ogunbameru, B.O. (1994) Cropping Systems Survey of the North East Arid Zone: A case study of Yobe State, Nigeria.
Kabura, B.H. and Odo, P.E. (1994) Prospects and constraints of irrigated vegetable production in the North East Arid Zone Development Programme (NEAZDP) Area.
Odili, J.O. (1994) Afforestation response to the environmental challenge in the North East Arid Zone of Nigeria: a lesion of experience.
Kalra, D.S., Zaria, L.T., Ambali, A.G. and Chaudri, S.U.R. (1994) Studies on diarrhoea and abortion in ruminants in the North East Arid Zone Development Program’s (NEAZDP) Area.
Quarterly and Annual reports are also available at the CAZS Library.

ANNEXURE IV

PHOTOGRAPHS OF EVENTS DURING THE MISSION

Photo1a: Participants at the Presentationby Prof. O. A. Bamiro on VL for the Drying Lakes held at UNIMAID, 16^th December, 2002.

Photo 1b: Participants at the Presentationby Prof. O. A. Bamiro on VL for the Drying Lakes held at UNIMAID, 16^th December, 2002.

Photo2: Prof. Amin, Deputy Vice-Chancellor, UNIMAID and also Chairman, NUNet/ICT Committee during the briefing on the Project by Prof Bamiro

Photo3: Dr. Bukar Bababe, the Focal Point for the Project at UNIMAID. He is the Director of the Centre for Arid Zone Studies.

Photo 4a: Mr. M.U. Omeje representing the Director of Lake Chad Research Institute during the presentation by Prof. O. A. Bamiro on VL for the Drying Lakes held at the Instutute, 17^th December, 2002.