Nigeria's minister of Water Resources, Sarah Ochekpe, has encouraged the use of technology in tackling water challenges in the country.

Speaking at the exhibition of Water Africa and West Africa Building and Construction in Abuja, the minister said cross fertilisation of ideas by the participants on how to effectively and efficiently utilise technology would enhance access to drinkable water and sanitation in Nigeria.

Ochekpe said information and knowledge were critical to development in the sector.

She urged participants to exploit the seminar and exhibition for their technological development, adding that the exhibition would expose staff of the ministry to new tools and ideas being displayed.

Permanent secretary of the ministry of Water Resources, Baba Umar Farouk stated that the annual event provided stakeholders in private and public sectors in the water and construction business the opportunities to display new technologies.

“The objective of this year's seminar and exhibition is to showcase new tools, machineries and techniques for water, housing and construction sectors as well as provide a platform for interaction with experts for purposes of cross fertilisation of ideas among all stakeholders,” he said.

The managing director of Ace Event, Tracey Shaw, said effective management of water and infrastructure services were of critical importance in Nigeria.

She urged Nigerian businesspeople and other stakeholders to seize the opportunity to interact towards building more sustainable water and infrastructure services in the country.

She added that this year's event had witnessed steady increase in the number of exhibitors, sponsors and participants.

More than 100 organisations are exhibiting their products and services.