By Abbas Nazil
NatureNews Africa’s Eco-Champion of the Week, Professor Sunday Paul Bako, has distinguished himself as one of Nigeria’s leading environmental scientists, conservation advocates and academic leaders whose decades of research, environmental management initiatives and biodiversity conservation efforts continue to advance sustainable development across the country.
Currently serving as Vice-Chancellor of Taraba State University, Jalingo, while also holding the position of Professor of Environmental Plant Biology and Biotechnology at Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Professor Bako has dedicated more than three decades to environmental sustainability through research, policy support, conservation programmes and capacity building.
His contributions span biodiversity conservation, pollution monitoring, phytoremediation, ecosystem restoration, environmental impact assessment and plant genetic resource conservation. Through his extensive research portfolio, he has supervised numerous postgraduate studies addressing issues such as forest biodiversity, vegetation mapping, heavy metal pollution, phytoremediation, climate-related ecological changes, drought stress in woody species and conservation of forest ecosystems.
Professor Bako’s environmental impact extends beyond academia. He contributed to the development and documentation of a botanical garden for the National Council for Arts and Culture in Kano State, a project aimed at conserving plant diversity and promoting environmental education. He also conducted ambient air quality monitoring and environmental impact assessment studies for industrial facilities and water infrastructure projects, helping to strengthen environmental management practices in Nigeria.
As an advocate of ecosystem restoration, he has championed tree planting and vegetation conservation initiatives through research, teaching and public engagement. His scholarly work has focused on the conservation of plant genetic resources, restoration of arid ecosystems, sustainable management of vegetation resources and the use of indigenous plant species in rehabilitating degraded environments. His studies on woody legumes and ecosystem restoration have provided valuable knowledge for combating desertification and land degradation in vulnerable regions.
His research on heavy metal pollution, air quality, wastewater contamination and phytoremediation has produced practical solutions for restoring polluted environments. Several of his studies identified native plant species capable of removing toxic substances from contaminated soils, offering environmentally friendly approaches to land reclamation and ecosystem recovery.
Professor Bako has also trained farmers on the safe use of agrochemicals under a United Nations Development Programme-supported initiative, helping to reduce environmental pollution while promoting sustainable agricultural practices in northern Nigeria.
His leadership in professional bodies, scientific journals and environmental research networks has further strengthened environmental awareness and conservation efforts nationwide. Through more than 80 scientific publications, international conference presentations and environmental research projects, he has consistently promoted the protection of biodiversity, sustainable use of natural resources and climate-resilient environmental management.
For his enduring commitment to environmental sustainability, conservation science and ecosystem restoration, Professor Bako stands out as a worthy Eco-Champion whose work continues to inspire researchers, students, policymakers and communities towards a greener and more sustainable future.
