By Femi Akinola
It’s evident that we can never know everything in life. Many great people across this country are doing remarkable things in their own way without making a fuss about it. One of such hardworking Nigerians is Olubunmi Olatilu, an afforestation expert, a walking encyclopedia of plants, both native and foreign to Nigeria.
From the Sahel to the Savannah, down to the Iroko trees and the dense forest flora, Olatilu can spend an entire day detailing each plant’s characteristics and uses. On his farm, there are varieties of over a thousand species, including many rare and endangered ones.
If there were a Nobel laureate prize for conservation, Olatilu’s passion and expertise in the details of plant characteristics would make him a potential recipient.
His farm is a hive of activity, attracting forestry students, commercial tree planters, researchers from the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), and curious visitors. Olatilu’s tree farm and nursery are exemplary.
On his farm, you will find the Opepe tree, once used for making electricity poles before being replaced by teak from India. The Opepe tree has found a revival on Olatilu’s farm. Other species, like the Aridan tree (Pterocarpus erinaceus), Cedar, and Melina, are propagated in large numbers due to high demand. Shade-providing trees like Opepe and Oporoporo, which remain green year-round, thrive on his farm.
Trees such as Pandoro, Ebony (used for ornamental purposes), and Masonia (a favorite of furniture makers now nearly extinct) are also being cultivated on Olatilu’s farm. The Baobab tree, known as Ose tree in Yoruba and capable of living for a thousand years, is also nurtured in his nursery.
Other notable species on his farm include Afara and Walnut trees for furniture, Mahogany, Omo tree (used for musical instruments and doors), and the Obo tree, known for its reputed ability to reveal witches through its poisonous properties.
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In addition to these, Olatilu’s farm boasts a variety of fruit trees, including Agbalumo, Soursop, Locust beans, Pawpaw, Mangoes, Tamarind, Bitter-Kola, Guava, and African Breadfruit.
With support from individuals and institutions like Dr. Olly Owen of Oxford University, Dennis Brown, formerly of IITA (Leventis Forestry Foundation) team, Global Green Grants, ITTF UK, and Dr. Babajide Ajobol, Olatilu has carried out remarkable afforestation work in Nigeria.
His engagement with nature acknowledges that despite our governance system’s challenges, there are Nigerians quietly but steadily working to build a brighter and rewarding future for the next generation. One among such teeming Nigerians is Olubunmi Olatilu, an unsung afforestation expert.
Olatilu is a native of Aiyetoro-Ekiti, Ekiti State, Nigeria. Born sixty years ago, he earned a degree in Forest Resources Management from the University of Ibadan, Southwest Nigeria.
He served as a Forest Officer in the defunct Ondo State Civil Service and later in Ekiti State, where he held various positions, including Director of Forestry (Non-Timber Forest Products) and Executive Secretary of the State Boundary Commission, before retiring in 2019.
He has attended numerous seminars and workshops worldwide, witnessing firsthand the rapid disappearance of valuable tree species.
Olatilu’s dedication to afforestation and conservation is not only commendable but worthy of recognition among Nigeria’s environment champions.
Additional information from Senator Babafemi Ojudu, a journalist turned conservationist.
