Varsity Lecturer Calls For Environmental Conservation, Says Notable Plants, Animals At The Risk Of Extermination

By Damilola Olujide

A lecturer at the University of Ibadan (UI), Dr. Olajumoke Abimbola, has restated the need for environmental conservation, calling on the federal government and other concerned stakeholders to intensify efforts towards preventing the extermination of notable plants and animals. 

Dr Olajumoke, an associate professor of Parasitology/Ecology and Environmental Biology in the Department of Zoology of the University and President, Nigerian Association of Zoos and Parks, NAZAP, lamented that 8 per cent of wildlife animals are extinct, while 22 per cent are endangered.

The don said all these while presenting lead address, during a Youth Environmental Summit of the Nigerian Society for Environmental Conservation held in UI and in commemoration of 2018 Save the Frogs Day Event.

Olajumoke insisted that failure to preserve pangolin, frogs and other small mammals pose a threat to ecosystem and sued for conscious efforts towards animal conservation.

Also speaking, Dr. Moses Oyatogun of the Department of Forestry and Wildlife, Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta said that waste reduction, and recycling are key to environmental conservation.

He declared that waste could be converted to biogas and that environmental degradation could jeopardise the future.

He highlighted the roles of youths in Nigeria conservation system and charged the emerging scholars to be fully involved in environmental conservation. The former Director of FUNAAB Zoo Park admonished the youths to be up and doing adding that ideas rule the world.

He noted: “Generate ideas and volunteer your time. Learn skills and stand out. For every of your idea, there are government agencies and Non-Governmental Organisations out there to support you if the idea is worthwhile.”