Participants during past Walk for Nature event. Photo credit: NCF
The Lagos State University (LASU), Ojo, will on Saturday, October 17, host more than 2,000 environmental enthusiasts and advocates for the 20th edition of the annual Walk for Nature.
The event, themed “Inspired for Climate Action,” aims to mobilise Nigerians to move beyond environmental awareness to practical action that protects nature and strengthens climate resilience.
Participants are expected to assemble at Makanjuola Hall on the university’s main campus by 7 a.m. for the symbolic walk.
Participation is free, but interested individuals are encouraged to register online via bit.ly/20thWFN2026.
The event is organised by the Lagos State Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources in partnership with the Nigerian Conservation Foundation (NCF) and Chevron Nigeria Limited.
In a joint statement, the organisers said the 20th-anniversary edition would highlight the urgent need for collective action in addressing growing environmental and climate-related challenges in Lagos and across Nigeria.
Walk for Nature is a flagship environmental advocacy initiative of the Lagos State Government and NCF that brings together government agencies, corporate organisations, students, communities and other stakeholders to promote environmental protection.
Over the years, the initiative has raised awareness of wildlife and biodiversity conservation, pollution, plastic waste, land restoration, desertification and drought resilience.
The organisers noted that climate change was no longer a distant threat to Lagos, citing rising temperatures, extreme rainfall, flooding, sea-level rise and the loss of natural ecosystems as growing concerns.
The Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Mr. Tokunbo Wahab, said the state recognised the urgency of climate action but stressed that government efforts must be complemented by responsible behaviour among residents.
He said the 20th Walk for Nature would help inspire behavioural change and remind Lagosians of their individual and collective roles in building a cleaner, safer and more climate-resilient city.
The organisers urged residents to translate climate awareness into everyday action by reducing waste and plastic use, avoiding the indiscriminate dumping of refuse in canals and wetlands, planting and protecting trees, conserving wetlands and adopting climate-smart lifestyles.
The Director-General of NCF, Dr. Joseph Onoja, said Nigerians were already experiencing the effects of climate change through flooding, extreme heat, displacement, food insecurity and increasing pressure on livelihoods.
He described the anniversary walk as a call to move from awareness to action, stressing that forests, wetlands, mangroves and other natural ecosystems play a vital role in protecting communities, supporting livelihoods and strengthening climate resilience.
The event will also feature special activities and youth-focused engagements to encourage young Nigerians to take an active role in shaping the country’s environmental future.
A waste-bin donation exercise is also planned to promote responsible waste management as part of broader efforts to address environmental challenges.
By Innocent Onoh
