NCF holds 30th AGM, sensitises on climate change, environmental issues

President of the Board of Trustees of the National Conservation Foundation (NCF), Chief Philip Asiodu has said that advocacy program of the Foundation is a tool to alert the government on climate change and issues surrounding it.

Asiodu made this assertion at the NCF’s Annual General Meeting on Wednesday in Lagos during which the foundation reviewed its activities and went through its Audited Financial Statements for 2018.

Chairman of the occasion, Asiodu in his address said, “Our advocacy programmes remain a vital tool to call attention of government, organisations and people to actions on climate change, plastic pollution, mangrove restoration, desertification and restoring Nigeria’s forest to at least 20% by 2050.”

Chairman of National Executive Council of the Foundation, Chief Ede Dafinone in his own remark talked about recent programs of the organisation.

“We initiated a campaign on Lagos Coastal Erosion with a lecture. The call became crucial seeing how coastal areas along the beaches, including our pride, Lekki Conservation Centre are being submerged,” he lamented.

Dafinone added that, “Scientists have predicted that without drastic actions to reverse the situation, the entire Lagos may be under water by 2050. The campaign was promoted by a press conference attended by 17 media houses.”

Meanwhile, Director General of NCF in his report mentioned the collaboration efforts of the NCF.

“In our collaboration effort, we held programmes and events with International Institute for Tropical Agriculture (IITA), United Nations Information Centre (UNIC), Lagos State Ministry of the Environment (MOE), Lagos Urban Forest and Animal Sanctuary Initiative (LUFASI), Mangrove Expo and many others. The synergy has continued to deliver great results even up till now,” he said.

Mr. Chigozie Okoro who represented the Auditor, Deloitte and Touche revealed that the Foundation has kept proper books of account as it appears in the examination and its financial position and its statement of profit or loss and other comprehensive income are in agreement with the books of account and returns.

In attendance were Council Members, representatives of corporate organisations, academia and media.

Earlier in the day, an “Orchids Garden” was launched in the memory of the former Executive Director of NCF, late Prof. Emmanuel Obot.