By Rasheeda Hamidu
Nigeria’s former Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo has pledged to strengthen environmental conservation and climate action following his emergence as President of the Board of Trustees (BOT) of the Nigerian Conservation Foundation (NCF).
Osinbajo, who accepted the position on Wednesday at the NCF’s 37th Annual General Meeting in Lagos, outlined his commitment to advancing biodiversity conservation and environmental sustainability in Africa’s most populous country.
The former Vice President paid tribute to the Foundation’s founding fathers, particularly President Emeritus Chief Philip Asiodu, for promoting environmental conservation long before climate change became a global priority.
He acknowledged the evergreen contributions of the late Chief S.L. Edu and other founding trustees, saying their vision laid the foundation for Nigeria’s environmental conservation movement.
“They deserve our commendation and gratitude because, but for their vision, Nigeria would not have had the strong foundation it has today for climate action,” Osinbajo said.
According to the former vice president, the effects of climate change are becoming increasingly evident across Nigeria through flooding, rising temperatures and other extreme weather events.
The professor of law expressed optimism that advances in technology, innovation and scientific knowledge would provide new opportunities to tackle environmental challenges more effectively.
He pledged to build on the achievements of previous NCF leaders by working closely with the Foundation’s board, management, staff, volunteers and partners to strengthen conservation efforts nationwide.
NatureNews notes that the Nigerian Conservation Foundation has played a leading role in biodiversity conservation, environmental education and ecosystem protection for more than four decades.
The Nigerian Conservation Foundation (NCF) was founded in 1980 by the late Chief Shafi Lawal Edu and was registered as a charitable trust in 1982 to promote nature conservation and sustainable development in Nigeria.
The Foundation’s Board of Trustees was led for more than two decades by Chief Izoma Philip Asiodu, who served as President of the BOT before handing over to Prof. Yemi Osinbajo at the Foundation’s 37th Annual General Meeting in July 2026.
Following Osinbajo’s emergence as BOT President, the remaining members of the Board of Trustees are Hon. Justice (Mrs.) R.I.B. Adebiyi, Mr. A.P. Leventis, Mrs. Onari Duke, Chief Ede Dafinone and Alhaji Muniru Ja’afaru.
NCF’s conservation programmes are supported by several corporate and institutional partners, including Chevron Nigeria Limited, First Bank of Nigeria, Lafarge Africa Plc, Nigeria LNG Limited (NLNG), TotalEnergies, Shell Nigeria, and other local and international organisations supporting biodiversity conservation and climate action.
NatureNews reports that stronger collaboration among conservation organisations, governments and development partners remains essential to protecting Nigeria’s biodiversity and advancing climate resilience.
Rasheeda Hamidu, an intern with NatureNews, is an undergraduate of the University of Abuja.
