The Nigerian Conservation Foundation (NCF), in collaboration with the Lagos State Government and Chevron Nigeria, has marked the 20th anniversary of its Walk for Nature initiative with a call for stronger collective action to address climate change and protect the environment.
The event, held at Lagos State University (LASU), Ojo, featured the donation of a modern waste bin for plastic waste to the institution to encourage recycling and promote environmentally responsible practices among students and members of the university community.
The annual initiative attracted a large crowd of youths, schoolchildren, fun seekers, students and environmental stakeholders from the public and private sectors.
The walk commenced at 7 a.m. from Makanjuola Hall within the LASU campus. Participants, organised into several groups, proceeded through the Isheri-Lagos Road towards the Igando axis before returning to the university for the commemorative ceremony.
Speaking at the ceremony, the Chairman of the NCF National Executive Council, Hon. Justice R.I.B. Adebiyi, described the 20th anniversary as a significant milestone in the foundation’s environmental advocacy, public engagement and partnership with the Lagos State Government.
She said the initiative had, over the years, brought together government institutions, businesses, communities, young people, students, environmental organisations and citizens to address pressing environmental challenges.
Adebiyi stressed that the theme of the 2026 edition, “Inspire for Climate Action,” was a deliberate call for individuals and institutions to take practical steps towards protecting nature and building a sustainable future.
She warned that human activities were increasingly putting the planet under pressure, urging Nigerians to reconsider how they treat the environment.
She illustrated the consequences of environmental degradation by drawing attention to farmers who lose their crops to flooding and prolonged drought, families whose homes are destroyed by rising floodwaters, and students whose education is disrupted by extreme weather events.
“These are not just statistics. They represent real people, real struggles, real futures at risk,” she said.
The NCF chairman noted that Lagos was particularly vulnerable to climate change because of its coastal location and growing exposure to rising sea levels, annual flooding, extreme heat and the continued loss of wetlands.
According to her, these challenges threaten communities, livelihoods and the future of the state, making environmental protection an urgent priority.
“These challenges are not reasons for despair. They are reasons for action,” she said.
Adebiyi emphasised that wetlands, forests, waterways and green spaces should not be treated as luxuries but as essential natural infrastructure required to keep Lagos habitable and resilient to climate-related disasters.
She cited the Lekki Conservation Centre as an example of how nature conservation could coexist with urban development, noting that the facility had demonstrated the importance of preserving functioning ecosystems within one of Africa’s fastest-growing cities.
“The lesson is simple. When we protect nature, we protect people. When we destroy nature, we weaken the very systems that help our communities withstand climate shocks,” she said.
Students urged to lead climate action
Addressing students of LASU, Adebiyi urged them to recognise their responsibilities as future leaders, professionals, entrepreneurs and researchers in addressing environmental challenges.
She argued that climate change was not the exclusive responsibility of environmental scientists, stressing that students in every academic discipline had a role to play.
“Climate change is not the responsibility of students in the environmental science faculty. You cannot say because you are studying law, it has nothing to do with you.
“Whatever your discipline, you have a role to play. So, you do not have to be a climate scientist to be a climate champion. You only need the willingness to act,” she said.
She called on universities to adopt more sustainable practices by reducing unnecessary energy consumption, organising regular environmental clean-up exercises and promoting waste segregation and recycling.
The NCF chairman also encouraged students to use their knowledge to develop practical solutions to environmental problems, demand accountability and embrace responsible consumption.
She urged individuals to avoid food waste, use reusable materials, reduce unnecessary consumption, conserve energy and consider walking or cycling where practical instead of using vehicles, thereby reducing pollution.
Communities, government and businesses challenged
Adebiyi also challenged residents to reduce the waste they generate, stop dumping refuse into drains, canals and wetlands, plant and nurture trees, and protect natural spaces within their communities.
She called on state and federal governments to integrate climate action into land-use planning, flood management, urban development and environmental governance.
Similarly, he urged businesses to move beyond environmental commitments and implement practical measures that contribute to a nature-positive economy.
She also called on civil society organisations, environmental groups and the media to sustain public education and hold institutions accountable for their environmental responsibilities.
“The climate crisis is a test of our responsibility, our creativity, our courage and our humanity,” she said.
He warned that future generations would live with the consequences of decisions being made today, urging Nigerians to choose a future defined by hope, opportunity and sustainable development rather than environmental destruction.
“Let us rise as students, unite as citizens, innovate as problem solvers and act as guardians of our planet.
“Our planet is our shared home; protecting it is our shared responsibility. The future is in our hands, the time is now, let us act,” Adebiyi declared.
Earlier, the Director-General of the Nigerian Conservation Foundation, Dr. Joseph Onoja, said the 20-year journey of the Walk for Nature demonstrated the organisation’s determination to sustain environmental awareness and encourage practical action.
Onoja described the initiative as an important platform for promoting sound environmental practices and encouraging individuals to contribute to a cleaner and healthier environment that supports lives and livelihoods.
“If you do something for 20 years, even if a child is born, 20 years is already an adult. So, for us to be doing it for 20 years, that shows that we are not giving up, no matter what it is. So, we continue to create that awareness more and more,” he said.
He explained that environmental protection should not be left to the government alone, noting that the actions of individuals could collectively make a significant difference.
According to him, indiscriminate disposal of plastic bottles can block drainage channels and contribute to flooding, while the widespread cutting down of trees can weaken ecosystems and undermine their environmental benefits.
Conversely, he said, collective tree-planting efforts and responsible waste disposal could help protect the environment and improve community resilience.
Onoja stressed that the Walk for Nature was designed to inspire individuals to take responsibility for the planet and contribute to climate action.
He added that environmental education must remain continuous to reach more people and encourage them to adopt sustainable practices.
Lagos Government, NCF stakeholders attend
The Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, was represented at the event by the Permanent Secretary, Office of Environmental Services and Water Resources, Dr. Gaji Omobolaji Tajudeen.
Also present was the former First Lady of Ogun State, Mrs. Olufunsho Amosun, alongside members of the NCF National Executive Council, including Lady Marie Fatai Williams.
The Permanent Secretary in the Office of Physical Planning, Wasiu Olayinka, was also among the dignitaries at the event.
The donation of the modern waste bin to LASU further reinforced the organisers’ emphasis on practical environmental responsibility, particularly waste management and recycling within educational institutions.
The 20th edition of the Walk for Nature reaffirmed the importance of collaboration among government, conservation organisations, businesses, educational institutions and citizens in tackling climate change and protecting the natural environment.
The organisers reiterated the need for sustained public awareness and collective action to ensure that environmental protection becomes an everyday responsibility rather than an occasional campaign.
Innocent Onoh
