Nigerians task on conservation of environment, nature

Students marching from the Project Office to the venue of the occasion

Dr. Joseph Onoja, Director, Technical Programmes, Nigerian Conservation Foundation (NCF), has called on Nigerians to make use of the wetlands resources to enjoy continuous yield and help the future generations meet their needs and aspirations.  

Onoja, who make the appeal during the NCF Hadejia-Nguru Wetlands Conservation Project (NCF-HNWCP) celebration of the 2016 edition of the Annual World Wetlands Day, in Yobe State, said that there could only be food for the coming generation, only if the people can ensure that they engage in activities that are sustainable and friendly to their environment.

The environmentalist said that wetlands are among the world’s most productive environment and are very sensitive to pollution from indiscriminate dumping of refuse.

“The wetlands’ productivity depends on the proper ecological functioning of wetlands, which is distorted by unsustainable and unfriendly anthropogenic environmental practices,” Onoja said.

The Acting Chairman of Nguru Local Government Area, Alhaji Maina D. Chiroma, while commending the good efforts of the organizers of the event and the activities of the NCF-Hadejia-Nguru Conservation Project in the wetlands over the years, said that the people in Nguru were so grateful to NCF for choosing to host this year’s celebration in their area.

NCF Director, Technical Programs, Dr. Joseph Onoja

“NCF’s activities have always impacted our people and the community positively, and this can be seen in their improved living conditions,” he added.

Beneficiaries of the empowerment program of the Foundation also expressed their gratitude for improved standard of living, after having undergone training in mat making, beekeeping, fishing and production of fuel-efficient stoves.

The NCF-HNWCP is part of the organisation’s Living on the Edge (LotE) project implemented in different parts of Nigeria and the theme for this year’s celebration is “WETLANDS FOR OUR FUTURE: SUSTAINABLE LIVELIHOODS.”

February 2 of every year is set aside by member countries’ signatories to the RAMSAR Convention as a day to celebrate the importance of wetlands ecosystem and its role to people and this year’s event aimed to create public awareness on the significance and management of Hadejia-Nguru Wetlands in particular and the Nigerian wetlands environment in general.

Among other dignitaries at the event were students from six invited schools.