NCF Initiates Partnership with South East Govts on Eco-tourism
Fadekemi Ajakaiye
The Nigerian Conservation Foundation (NCF) has embarked on building partnership with the government of the South East states in a bid to spread its activities across the entire country for even and maximum impact.
“We have not made significant inroads into the Southeast geopolitical zone of the country over all these years for factors that cannot easily be adduced,” said Dr Muhtari Aminu-Kano, the Director-General of the membership non-governmental organisation.
“The region is bedeviled as many other parts of the country by environmental challenges especially soil and gully erosion, poor drainages and waste management challenges and NCF is willing to partner with the governments and people of the region including the private sector to begin to turnaround the situation.”
It is against this backdrop that Mr. Paddy Ezeala, NCF’s Communication Advisor, led a team to Awka, recently, to meet with representatives of the Anambra State Ministry of Environment, Ecology and Beautification Government to discuss common grounds and areas of possible collaboration and partnership. The Anambra State Government was represented by Dr. Emmanuel Okafor, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Chief Chido Obidiegwu, Managing Director, Clear Drainage & Forest Preservation Agency; and other officials. Mr. Ernest Nwufoh, Programme Director, Biodiversity Preservation Centre; and Mrs. Nkem Agu, Programme Officer, South-Saharan Social Development Organization (SSDO) also joined the meeting.
The areas are: Forest Conservation – The State Government was advised to work with NCF to embrace massive tree planting in order to fight erosion and reclaim lost forests. This will synchronise with the Federal Government’s plan to plant 25 million trees in the next one year. Anambra State alone can produce 2 million trees because of severity of erosion in the state.
Environmental Education – NCF is willing to partner the State in introducing environmental education into the school curriculum, establishing conservation clubs and setting up relevant schemes in higher institutions.
Waste Management – public sensitisation and education should be carried out in order to help the public understand proper waste management techniques. Recycling of plastic waste would be introduced. Waste Management Advocacy Campaign in Lagos and Ogun States, and South Saharan Social Development Organisation (SSDO) ongoing project were sighted as examples.
Beautification – NCF encourages scientifically designed centres that could be used as ecotourism development projects.
In-situ Conservation – NCF expressed readiness to partner the State Government to establish conservation centres. This will include the protection of the sacred forests.
Partnership with local organizations – Activities of Biodiversity Preservation Centre (BPC) should be given more life to as low hanging fruits. Working on Agulu
Lake, Maamu River Forest etc. Agulu Lake is said to have the largest crocodile species in West Africa and should be made a crocodile sanctuary.