Environment

National Park Service Partners Mothers Of Earth Foundation on Capacity Building

Published

6 years ago

December 31, 2019

The National Parks Service will partner with the Mothers of the International Foundation (MEIF), a non-governmental organization based in Nigeria for capacity building.

Dr Ibrahim Goni, the Conservator General, National Park Service, made the promise in Abuja when the foundation paid him a courtesy visit.

The team led by an ex-international footballer, Emmanuel Babayaro (MON) solicited partnership towards its forthcoming international conference with the theme ` The Economic and Social Effects of Women Migration in Africa”.

The C-G noted that the theme of the conference is apt considering the present economic and social challenges associated with our contemporary society in the recent time.

He expressed the Service’s interest to participate in the conference as well as the training for a better and improved general performance.

“My service is doing a lot to reposition national parks in the country, every experience or knowledge gained would help improve and strengthen our resolve to upgrade services to international standards.

Earlier, Babayaro had stated that the purpose of the visit was to seek the Service collaboration for the foundation’s `Up Skill Human Capital’ training to make the park’s tourist haven and for the development of the country at large.

“Our foundation is partnering with many organisations like Geneva Academy for Peace that provide best of understanding and practical skills in peaceful conflict resolution, negotiation and other skills that allow one to interact better in a given environment.

“Some of the training courses include: Sustainable Development and Human Right, Effective Leadership and Conflict Resolution and Mediation.

Babayaro suggested organising a football match that will comprise ex-international players at the park headquarters in a bid to further enhance publicity for the Service which the C-G accented.

The visitors also went on a tour of the facilities at the Park headquarters.

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Environment

Royal Commonwealth Society Kicks Off Clean Oceans Campaign in Nigeria

Published

4 months ago

July 8, 2025

The Gleamer

By Joel Ajayi

The Royal Commonwealth Society (RCS), in collaboration with the National Sports Commission (NSC) and Commonwealth Games Nigeria, has officially launched the Clean Oceans Plastic Awareness Campaign in Nigeria, aiming to combat the growing threat of plastic pollution across the Commonwealth.

The campaign was flagged off on Wednesday at Jabi Lake, Abuja, with a strong message of environmental responsibility, especially for Nigeria’s youth.

The initiative is designed to raise awareness about plastic pollution, encourage proper waste disposal, and promote environmental stewardship—particularly around the country’s waterways.
Speaking at the launch, the Country Director and CEO of the Royal Commonwealth Society Nigeria, Mr. Blackson Olaseni Bayewumi, emphasized that the campaign is part of a global Commonwealth-wide effort to curb plastic waste and protect ocean ecosystems.

He highlighted the critical role of sports as a tool for engaging young people and driving meaningful change in environmental behavior.

“The Commonwealth accounts for one-third of the world’s ocean waters, and nearly half of its member countries are Small Island Developing States that suffer disproportionately from plastic pollution,” Bayewumi noted.

According to him, the Royal Commonwealth Society’s Clean Oceans Plastics Campaign aims to prevent at least one million pieces of plastic from entering Commonwealth waterways.

The campaign blends grassroots education with direct community action, urging people to reduce their plastic footprint, embrace alternatives, and promote cleaner oceans.

A major component of the campaign is its integration with the King’s Baton Relay—a hallmark of the build-up to the Commonwealth Games. In a groundbreaking move, the 2025-2026 relay will spotlight sustainability and environmental protection, beginning with its launch by His Majesty The King at Buckingham Palace on Commonwealth Day 2025. The Baton Relay is now on a 500-day journey across all Commonwealth nations and territories ahead of the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.

In each country, including Nigeria, the Baton Relay will bring together youth, athletes, local communities, and environmental groups for a week of activities—most notably, organized plastic clean-up drives.

The urgency of this campaign is underlined by alarming statistics: the world produces 400 million tonnes of plastic every year, with over 12 million tonnes ending up in the oceans.
Without urgent action, scientists predict that by 2050, there could be more plastic than fish in the sea.

Plastic waste poses a deadly threat to marine life—suffocating birds, fish, and mammals while damaging key ecosystems.

Moreover, as plastics break down into microplastics due to ocean erosion and sunlight, they enter our food, water, and even air.

Although the full health implications of microplastics remain unknown, early research suggests they may disrupt vital bodily functions—and there is currently no method to fully remove them from the environment or our bodies.
The campaign supports multiple UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly:

SDG 12: Responsible, Consumption and ProductionSDG 13: Climate Action, SDG 14: Life Below Water

It also reflects the core principles of the Commonwealth Charter, especially: Article 9: Sustainable Development. Article 10: Protection of the Environment and Article 14: Recognition of the Needs of Small States

As the world grapples with escalating environmental challenges, the Clean Oceans Plastics Campaign represents a significant step in uniting nations, communities, and young leaders under a shared mission: to protect our oceans, preserve biodiversity, and build a cleaner, safer world for future generations.

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