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 denoted that waste should be prevented and resources should be harnessed and not destroyed.
Olaleru stated that nature had been designed to take care of itself and people should be mindful of their activities so as not to cause imbalance in the cycle of life.
She charged the pupils to be ambassadors of biodiversity conservation and start by using available resources responsibly.
Also, the Chief Executive Officer, GIS Konsult, Mr David Afolayan, who is an alumnus of the school, said his company alongside other partners would support UI Staff school.
According to him, the support will include planting fruit trees and gardens that will be maintained and the biodiversity mapping of the resources will also be done.
Afolayan said that his company promoted geo-literacy, adding that the company would support the school in the use of technology and make resources available for the pupils.
He deplored the challenges bedeviling the school from years of neglect such as leaking roofs, collapsed structures, 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 said there would be collaboration to mentor the pupils on biodiversity and the environment, and demonstrating how GIS can be used for environmental monitoring.
Afolayan said asides conservation of biological diversity, some pupils could later choose a career path from the interventions to supporting 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 the need for people to improve their attitude toward plants and animals and managing 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.”
NAN reports that the event featured planting of trees and school gardens on the premises of UI Staff School.
According to an online website, American Museum of Natural History, www.amnh.org, biological diversity refers to the variety of life on earth at all its levels, from genes to ecosystems.
It stated also, that it can encompass the evolutionary, ecological, and cultural processes that sustain life.
