By Bisola Adeyemo
The Director General, Nigerian Conservation Foundation (NCF), Dr. Muhtari Aminu-Kano has inaugurated Gashaka Biodiversity Support Initiative.
The Initiative was inaugurated at Gashaka Kingdom in Taraba state, where the Gashaka-Gumti National Park is located.
Amino-Kano, speaking on Monday while inaugurating GBSI, said the Initiative encourage the conservation of endangered organisms including vultures in the Gashaka Kingdom, Taraba State.
The NCF DG commended the Emir of Gashaka Kingdom, Emir Zubairu Gabbo for his fatherly sacrifice in donating six hectares of prime land in his community in support of the Gashaka Biodiversity Support Initiative.
NCF DG said, “The Nigerian Conservation Foundation has had a long history with Gashaka and the Gashaka-Gumti National Park.
“For a long time, we have supported the protection, research and community-based activities in the park, and in partnership with some of our international partners including the WWF, BirdLife and the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds. So, all that have culminated in today because today is the launch of a genuinely independent, autonomous community-based organisation in support of biodiversity around a very rich and highly biodiverse and largest National Park in Africa. It is a historical moment.
In his remarks, Emir Gabbo promised that in addition to donating six hectares of land for the GBSI, he would use his power, privileges and connections to ensure that the initiative survived, adding that it would provide opportunities for job creation especially for the youths of his community.
