Stakeholders have canvassed greater commitment to conservation of biological diversity and sustainability as the world commemorates the 2025 International Day for Biological Diversity.
They made the call at a sensitisation programme on biodiversity organised for students of the University of Ibadan (UI) Staff School on Thursday in Ibadan.
The event was co-organised by the My Environment Wellbeing Initiative (MEWIn), Nigerian Society for Conservation Biology (NSCB) and GIS Konsult, Ibadan among other partners.
The Chief Executive Officer (CEO), MEWIn, Dr Adedotun Afolayan, who spoke on the theme “Harmony with Nature and Sustainable Development”, stressed the need to protect the environment.
Afolayan, who explained the interconnectedness of biological diversity, urged the younger generation to contribute their quota to making the world better and preserving it for future generations.
“Every living thing plays a very important role in keeping our environment balanced and making our world beautiful,” she said.
The MEWIn CEO called on the general public to join hands with it in conserving nature’s gifts so that humanity could continue to exist.
President, NSCB, Dr Fatsuma Olaleru, underscored the importance of sustaining biodiversity and the benefits for humanity.
According to her, living in harmony with nature means preventing waste and harnessing resources rather than destroying them.
Olaleru stated that nature had been designed to take care of itself, and people should be mindful of their activities so as not to disrupt the balance in the cycle of life.
She charged the pupils to be ambassadors of biodiversity conservation and start by using available resources responsibly.
Additionally, the Chief Executive Officer of GIS Konsult, Mr David Afolayan, an alumnus of the school, stated that his company, along with other partners, will support the UI Staff School.
According to him, the support will include planting fruit trees and maintaining gardens, as well as mapping the biodiversity of the resources.
Afolayan stated that his company promoted geoliteracy, noting that it would support the school in utilising technology and make resources available to the pupils.
He deplored the challenges bedevilling the school, stemming from years of neglect, such as leaking roofs, collapsed structures, inadequate teaching resources, and a shortage of quality teachers due to retirements.
“For us, it is a call to action and we are reaching out to other alumni and other stakeholders to support UI Staff School,” Afolayan said.
The CEO announced a collaboration to mentor pupils on biodiversity and the environment, and to demonstrate how GIS can be used for environmental monitoring.
Afolayan said that, besides the conservation of biological diversity, some pupils could later choose a career path from the interventions to support the school.
In her goodwill message, the Chairman, Board of Governors, UI Staff School, Prof. Ifeoma Isiugo-Abanihe, called for purposeful sensitisation to preserve biodiversity.
Isiugo-Abanihe said, ”There is a need for people to improve their attitude toward plants and animals and manage nature’s resources for sustainability.”
Earlier, the Headmistress of the school, Mrs Hawau Adekanye, appreciating the organisers, said, ”Living in harmony with nature is not optional but germane to human survival.”
The event featured the planting of trees and school gardens on the premises of UI Staff School.
According to the American Museum of Natural History’s online website, www.amnh.org, biological diversity refers to the variety of life on Earth at all its levels, from genes to ecosystems.
It also stated that it can encompass the evolutionary, ecological, and cultural processes that sustain life.
