Professor Dr. Abbas Lafta Al-Aqabi, President of Wasit University, took part in the “Water, Peace, and Security 2025” symposium organized by the Water Protection Program in Iraq (WPS). The event brought together university presidents, academic and governmental figures, and a distinguished group of researchers and specialists from southern governorates, including Wasit, Maysan, Basra, and Dhi Qar.

The symposium aimed to assess the outcomes of the Water, Peace, and Security Partnership in southern Iraq and to support comprehensive and integrated responses to the escalating challenges of water scarcity. It also sought to explore mechanisms for building sustainable, evidence-based, and actionable solutions.

Dr. Al-Aqabi emphasized that the symposium addressed several critical themes, including the integration of water conflict sensitivity into university curricula, enhancing cooperation between academic institutions and governmental bodies in confronting water crises, and exploring the potential for expanding partnerships beyond the framework of the WPS program.

The participants concluded with recommendations stressing the need for integrated solutions that combine local knowledge with international expertise, and for strengthening coordination among national and local stakeholders to ensure water and environmental security in Iraq.