UI Don, Nigerian Conservation Students Sue For Environmental Preservation

By Ismail Afolabi

A seasoned scholar, scores of conservation students and wildlife professionals have restated the need for environmental conservation, calling on the federal government and other concerned stakeholders to swing into action to prevent the extermination of notable plants and animals.

The scholar who is an associate professor of Parasitology/Ecology and Environmental Biology in the Department of Zoology of the University and President, Nigerian Association of Zoos and Parks, NAZAP, Dr. Olajumoke Abimbola expressed grief that 8% of wildlife animals are extinct while 22% are endangered.

She stated this in her lead address on Saturday, during a Youth Environmental Summit of the Nigerian Society for Environmental Conservation held in UI and in commemoration of 2018 Save the Frogs Day Event under the watch of Mr. Oyegbami Akinleye.

Dr. Olajumoke insisted that failure to preserve pangolin, frogs and other small mammals pose a threat to ecosystem and sued for conscious efforts towards animal conservation.

Also speaking, Dr. Moses Oyatogun of the Department of Forestry and Wildlife, Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta said that waste reduction, and recycling are key to environmental conservation. He declared that waste could be converted to biogas and that environmental degradation could jeopardise the future.

Dr. Oyatogun highlighted the roles of youth in Nigeria conservation system and charged the emerging scholars to be fully involved in environmental conservation. The former Director of FUNAAB Zoo Park admonished the youths to be up and doing adding that ideas rule the world.

He noted: “generate ideas and volunteer your time. Learn skills and stand out. For every of your idea, there are government agencies and Non Governmental Organisations out there to support you if the idea is worthwhile.”

In their presentations, other professionals in attendance including Mr. Chidubem Okolie, John Attah, Ogundiran Omotoke, Nwosu Justina Ezinne, and their associate from Veterinary Medicine Mr. Adewole Yinka reiterated the need for the government and concerned individuals to address the problems of invasive animals, pollution, habitat loss, over consumption of animals and diseases affecting them. They unanimously agreed that plants and animal problems, if not addressed, pose threat to human beings and ecosystem.

One of the catalysts of the Summit, Mr. Godwin Chinemerem and the pioneer president of the society, Akande Hammed maintained that animals lives matter just as human beings’ and charged the federal government to focus on youth involvement in environmental conservation.