On February 21, A Joint Webinar with the overarching theme of ‘Sediment Management for Sustainable Hydropower and Water Security’ was successfully held. The Webinar was co-organized by the International Research and Training Center on Erosion and Sedimentation (IRTCES) in China and the Regional Centre for Integrated River Basin Management (RC-IRBM) in Nigeria. This workshop marked the first official collaborative exchange between the two UNESCO Category II Centers following the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding in September 2024.

The Webinar brought together a total of 14 participants drawn from IRTCES and RC-IRBM to discuss key issues such as sediment management, sustainable hydropower development, and water security. The meeting was co-chaired by Prof. Shi Hongling, Division Chief of IRTCES, and Prof. Omogbemi O. Yaya, Director of RC-IRBM.

Dr. Martin Eduvie from the Nigeria National Water Resources Institute (NWRI) introduced the goals and mission of the institute. Dr. Sani Dauda Ahmed from RC-IRBM shared the latest research progress on sustainable watershed management practices in Nigeria. Mr. Adedotun Salami from NWRI presented research on reservoir sedimentation studies in Nigeria, while Engineer Julius Onemano discussed the results of flood and erosion assessments in the country. Porf. Zhang Jianli, Deputy Director of IRTCES, provided an overview of the China Institute of Water Resources and Hydropower Research (IWHR) and IRTCES, including their organizational structure and research focus. Prof. Shi Hongling delivered a comparative analysis on variations in runoff and sediment load of the typical rivers worldwide. Prof. Liu Cheng shared key experiences of sediment management drawn from several large rivers around the world, and Dr. Zhao Ying introduced the global data collection and publishing platform of erosion and sedimentation.

Following the presentations, the two sides explored future collaboration methods and next steps, such as strengthening cooperation through expert exchanges, training programs, and international student projects. The Webinar concluded with summaries by Prof. Shi Hongling and Prof. Yaya. Against the backdrop of increasing global water resource demands, sediment management is a critical component for ensuring sustainable hydropower development and water security. This workshop aimed to share cutting-edge research and practical experiences in sediment management through academic exchanges and international cooperation, enhancing the capacity of both sides in water resource management and river basin governance, and contributing wisdom and strength to achieving global sustainable development goals.