Environment

World Endangered Species Day: Grassroots awareness necessary – Don

Published

6 years ago

May 18, 2019

World Endangered Species Day: Grassroots awareness necessary – Do

Dean, Faculty of Environmental Sciences, Nasarawa State University, Keffi, Prof. Nasiru Idris, says awareness at the local level will help save wildlife endangered species.

Idris said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Friday in Abuja on the backdrop of the World Endangered Species Day Celebrations.

Endangered Species Day is observed on the third Friday of May every year to spread awareness about the importance of protecting endangered species, their habitats and to take actions necessary to protect them.

He said that taking the message of preservation of wildlife to the grassroots is necessary because some of them do not understand the implications of the endangered species going into extinction.

“Nigerians should participate, especially in our rural areas where most people’s livelihood depend on natural resources, including the endangered species.

“The message of the protection and conservation of these endangered species should therefore mostly go to them as their daily activities threaten the existence of the species’’.

According to him, `this day is set aside in order to remind people and give them an opportunity to learn more about the role of protecting endangered species within their own territory.

“This is very important because, if you look at the level of extinction of endangered species today, you will discover that it is seriously alarming.

“Nigeria in the past had different varieties of endangered species but today, you hardly hear of, or see, those kinds of species unless you visit zoos.

“Do we even have an active zoo in this country?’’ he queried, adding that if we do, it will serve as an avenue for government revenue generation and also improve tourism in the country.

“Therefore, setting aside this day for these species will help in directing our thoughts towards protecting them,’’ he said.

The Don also advised that the awareness campaign should not leave the school children behind as they are the ones to protect the environment in the future.

“This message should be taken to the school children in order to catch them young. As leaders of tomorrow they should grow with the consciousness of protecting the wildlife, humans and the environment’’.

He also called on religious leaders to join other stakeholders in the race to save these species.

“Religious leaders should also play their role during sermons in both Mosques and churches, on the importance of protecting endangered species,’’ he added.

NAN

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Environment

Royal Commonwealth Society Kicks Off Clean Oceans Campaign in Nigeria

Published

3 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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