The Nigerian Conservation Foundation (NCF) has called on traditional leaders to use their revered institutions in charting a path for the protection and restoration of the nation’s environment. NCF made this call at the 18th Chief S.L. Edu Memorial Lecture with the theme “The role of Traditional Leaders in Protecting and Restoring the Nigerian Environment” which took place on Thursday, 16th January 2020 at Bankers House, Victoria Island, Lagos. The Lecture was in collaboration with the family of Chief S.L. Edu and supported by Chevron Nigeria Limited. The Guest Lecturer, His Eminence, Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, the Sultan of Sokoto said that the human society should take care of the environment with every sense of responsibility as a caregiver because the environment has left its pristine state. He said “Desert encroachment is occurring at 600 meters per annum and the figures are rising daily. This has resulted in land losses and dwindling food production [at a time] when the population is growing” The Sultan of Sokoto declared that leaders of traditional societies are the major stakeholders in environmental preservation and their leadership is considered critical and indispensable to the whole system. He reiterated that the failure to manage the environment has…
Introduction Globally, the population of vultures have suffered a serious decline with some species recording about 95% decline. This decline has been blamed on various factors including direct persecution, poisoning, death from diclofenac biomagnification, use of vulture parts for traditional medicines, etc. In Africa, where we have about 11 species of vultures, they have also suffered the same fate of decline. It has been shown that the 6 out of the 11 species of vulture in Africa are at the brink of extinction (BirdLife 2015). According to BirdLife, this decline has tremendous impact on human health and the economy. In Nigeria, the vulture populations have witnessed marked declines both in protected and unprotected areas. Protected areas that are supposed to be haven for these species have also witnessed this disturbing trend. A study (Tende & Uttosson 2008) showed that most of the vultures in Yankari Game Reserve have all declined. Of the five vulture species recorded in the Reserve in the early 80s only 2 species existed with very few individuals. In 2013, a follow-up study (Onoja et al 2013) was conducted in and around Yankari Game Reserve with similar result of the rate of decline. The marked decline of…
In September 2019, in line with the International Vulture Awareness Day, the message “Save the Egyptian Vulture from Extinction” was spread to 2,500,000 people in the form of six advert boards installed on the major route to the Abuja Airport in Nigeria. The Egyptian Vulture is among the most threatened and the only long-distance migrant among the Euro-Asian vultures, thus one of the flagships for the conservation of Old World scavengers over three continents. Although still large numbers are wintering in Sahel zone, the species became rare visitor to Nigeria because of the massive persecution and demand of vulture parts for traditional rituals and believed-based uses. As a result, all vultures have almost extinct from Nigeria. To counteract this critical situation, the Nigerian Conservation Foundation / Birdlife Nigeria (NCF) is mobilizing all potential resources, involving all relevant stakeholders and applying innovative approaches to find efficient solutions. Considering that Abuja Airport is one of the key regional airports, this campaign of NCF is a very powerful tool to raise international public awareness about the critical status of vultures, their role in the ecosystems and the threats they face. The initiative is part of the international campaign “Fly with the Vulture” in…
(L-R) Izoma Philip Asiodu, Chairman of the occasion; His Eminence, Alhaji Muhammad Sa'ad Abubakar, the Sultan of Sokoto, Guest Speaker; His Excellency, Dr. Obafemi Amzat, Deputy Governor of Lagos State and His Royal Majesty, Oba Adedotun Gbadebo, the Alake of Egbaland at the 18th Chief S. L. Edu Memorial Lecture, held today at the Bankers House, Victoria Island Lagos.
NCF holds its annual Chief S.L. Edu Memorial Lecture on Thursday, 16th January, 2020 at Bankers House, Victoria Island, Lagos. Now in its 18th edition, a lecture on this year’s theme “The role of Traditional Leaders in Protecting and Restoring the Nigerian Environment” will be delivered by His Eminence, Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar CFR, mni, the Sultan of Sokoto. Chief S.L. Edu Memorial Lecture is an annual event organised by NCF in collaboration with the family of Chief S.L. Edu and supported by Chevron Nigeria Limited. The lecture series aims at bringing environmental issues to the front burner of national discourse while articulating solutions through speakers from diverse backgrounds. The event equally serves to award scholarship grants to two PhD students whose research are in the field of environmental sciences in any Nigerian universities. The grant is sponsored by Chevron Nigeria Limited and seek to promote research works in nature conservation, biodiversity preservation, environmental management and sustainable livelihood. Some of the topics and guest speakers in its 17-year history include: A Quiet Revolution: Faith and the Environment – Mr. Martin Palmer, Alliance for Religions & Conservation, UK; Environmental Management: Imperatives in Africa’s Sustainable Development – Prof. Charles Okidi, University of Kenya;…
The Nigerian Conservation Foundation (NCF) held its annual fundraising dinner dubbed “Green Ball” with the theme “Restoring Mother Nature: New Deal for Nature and People” at the Grand Ball Room, Eko Hotels & Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos. Dr. Muhtari Aminu-Kano, Director General of NCF in his introductory remark, stated: “The alarming conclusions on the seriousness of climate change and environmental degradation in Nigeria makes it necessary for NCF to redouble its efforts. Recent scientific reports from the United Nations and other international agencies show us that climate change and the decline in nature have reached the point where they threaten human existence. This is more so in Nigeria where awareness of environmental issues is quite low and where these issues rank low in priority in our private and national lives. Hence, the essence of our gathering to deliberate and raise fund to raise the bar in the conservation promotion.” The President, Board of Trustees, NCF, Izoma Philip Asiodu shared his observation about the state of the environment in Nigeria: “The nation is losing its forest at a fast rate. The savannah is disappearing, mangroves are being cleared, and pollution is everywhere. The report has it that Lagos and other coastal…
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