2018 World Mangrove Day

2018 International Day for the Conservation of Mangrove Ecosystem

VENUE: Lekki Conservation Centre

The 2018 World Mangrove Day was titled the international day for the conservation of the mangrove ecosystem. As a member of the Nigerian Field Society, we partook in the celebration of the 2018 World Mangrove Day by attending the event organised at the Lekki Conservation Centre, Lagos, Nigeria.

The programme started with the arrival and registration of guests after which the singing of  National Anthem was done. The welcome address was given by the Technical Director, Nigerian Conservation Foundation (NCF), Dr. Onoja representing the Director General, NCF Mr. Adebayo Mahmud.

The opening speech was delivered by Prince David Omaghomi who is the Executive Director, Eco-Restoration Foundation (ERF) in which he talked about the mangrove, its size  and floristic compositions, threat and problems it faces with possible solutions enjoining everyone to contribute to the protection, restoration and conservation of the vital ecosystem.

A book preview was done by Prof. Frank Ugiomoh, Professor of Arts, History and Theory from the University of Port Harcourt. The book presented was \”Man and Mangrove-an Environmental Awakening by Jerry Chidi. The book depicts a pictoral description on what is happening around the coast showing the results of illegal refineries and its after effects on the mangrove and other life forms (marine and aquatic) and also on the environment.

A remark was given by Desmond Majekodunmi, a Council Member of NCF and Chairman of the organisation\’s Fundraising and Awareness Committee. Among a list of the things he said was \’we as individuals are loosing our children\’s life support system would we fail to preserve them and if we loose the battle against climate change, then we have lost the battle of saving our children\’. He also said the Mangrove draws in more carbon dioxide than any other trees in the rain forest.

Mr. Desmond Majekodunmi giving a remark to the guests

Jerry Chidi, a photograhic writer did a presentation detailing before and after picture ranging between 2009 and 2018 of what\’s happening to our coastal region, also showing the effect of illegal refineries and the destruction of such illegal refineries by law enforcement authorities leading to explosion (locally termed as KPOFIRE) and oil spillage into the coastal waters. This was followed by an exhibition around the photo gallery.

An interactive session followed with guests asking questions and in answering one of the questions, reference was made to the Falcorp Mangrove Park by Prince Omaghomi with relations to the pollutions happening around the park and the spill of waste into the river by the Warri Refiney and Petrochemical Company (WRPC).

The programme came to a close with group photographs, closing remarks/vote of thanks delivered with some refreshments and finally a tour by all present around the Lekki Conservation Centre.

[huge_it_slider id=\”23\”]

#Mangrove #Environment #Conservation #Rainforest #Pollution #Oilspill #FalcorpMangrovePark #NigerianConservationFoundation #LekkiConservationCentre #Warri #Lagos #Nigeria