By Olaoye Oyewole & Femi Dansu
The Nigerian Conservation Foundation (NCF) team has paid a courtesy visit to the Vice-Chancellor of the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB) with a view to establish a fruitful partnership between both parties.
During the visit held in Conference Room A of the Vice-Chancellor’s Office, Mr. Ayodele Alamu, Senior Manager, Business Development and Communication at NCF, highlighted the Foundation’s role as Nigeria’s leading membership-based Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO), focused on nature conservation and sustainable development since its establishment in 1980.
He noted that NCF represents international conservation organisations such as the World Conservation Union (IUCN), World Wildlife Fund (WWF), and BirdLife International, while it collaborates with various government levels, corporate organisations, communities, and individuals across Nigeria.
Mr. Alamu emphasised NCF’s significant contributions to national development over the past 40 years, particularly in preserving Nigeria’s biodiversity, enhancing livelihoods, and promoting sustainable lifestyles.
He mentioned notable projects like the Lekki Conservation Centre in Lagos state, Becheve Nature Reserve in Cross River State, Omo Forest Reserve in Ogun state, and Finima Nature Park in Rivers state.
Mr. Alamu detailed how NCF supports young people in environmental sustainability, raising awareness on global development issues, and realising their potential through various initiatives.
He expressed the Foundation’s desire to partner with FUNAAB to promote the NCF Gen Z Climate Actions Programme, establish school conservation clubs, and collaborate on environmental conservation and sustainable development projects, including afforestation and tree planting initiatives.
Mr. Alamu concluded by outlining the potential benefits of the partnership for FUNAAB, such as participation in the NCF Gen Z Climate Action Programme, volunteer and scholarship opportunities, academic and research exchanges, and joint project development to attract foreign grants.
Responding, the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Babatunde Kehinde welcomed the NCF Team and expressed FUNAAB’s commitment to conservation efforts, highlighting the University’s designated conservation areas and the FUNAAB Zoo Park.
Prof. Kehinde acknowledged the importance of addressing climate change and ecosystem challenges, stressing the need for partnerships with organisations like NCF to enhance conservation efforts in Nigeria.
Prof. Kehinde affirmed that the collaboration would benefit students from the College of Environmental Resources Management (COLERM) and the College of Biosciences (COLBIOS), among other related colleges.
He assured the Foundation of the University’s readiness and capability to support the collaboration, noting FUNAAB’s recent high rankings in the Times Higher Education Impact Rankings for zero hunger and quality education.
The Vice-Chancellor concluded by stressing FUNAAB’s dedication to tackling conservation issues in Nigeria through strategic partnerships with organizations like NCF.
The meeting was attended by Prof. Sammy Sam-Wobo, Director of FUNAAB Zoo Park; Mr. Moses Ayanda, Deputy Registrar II, Vice-Chancellor’s Office and Mr. Olayomade Adeyemo, NCF’s Zonal Coordinator for the Southwest, and other staff members of the Zoo Park.
