The Nigerian Conservation Foundation (NCF), an Environmental NGO, is set to host the 20th edition of its annual memorial lecture in honor of Chief S.L Edu with the theme “Only One Earth.”
The Memorial Lecture is an annual event organized by the Foundation to honor the life and times of one of Nigeria’s pre-independence generation nationalist, statesman and environmental advocate.
This is contained in a statement signed by Mr. Dapo Soneye, Head of Communications, NCF, and made available to newsmen in Lagos.
Soneye said that the lecture series, which is sponsored by Chevron Nigeria, aims to bring environmental issues to the forefront of national debate while articulating solutions through expert discourse around the importance of nature and environmental preservation.
Soneye said that the lecture will be featuring a conversation with the celebrated British Naturalist, Sir David Attenborough.
He added that the event is scheduled to hold on Wednesday, July 6, at the Agip Recital Hall, Muson Centre, Onikan, Lagos, at 11.00 a.m.
Soneye said that the lecture will be graced by the Minister of State for Environment, Mrs. Sharon Ikeazor; His Excellency, Dr. Teshome Nkrumah, the Canadian Deputy High Commissioner; His Excellency, Mr. Ben Llewellyn-Jones OBE.
“Others included the British Deputy High Commissioner; Chief Ede Dafinone, Chairman NCF NEC; and Chairman of the Lekki Estate Urban Forest and Animal Initiative and Founder of the Lufasi Nature Park.
“Traditional rulers, business executives, religious leaders, community leaders, members of CSOs, academia, media, among others,” Soneye said.
He said that the memorial lecture had been used over the years as a platform by Chevron Nigeria to further research in the areas of nature conservation, biodiversity, environmental management, and sustainable livelihood by providing a grant to two Ph.D. students studying environmental and biological sciences at any Nigerian university.
It was reported that in its 19- year history, the lecture has featured renowned stakeholders and experts like Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, a former President of Nigeria, and Mr. Martin Palmer, Alliance for Religions & Conservation, UK.
Others included. Prof. Charles Okidi, University of Kenya; Late Chief Ernest Shonekan, former Head of Interim Government in Nigeria; Ms. Amina Mohammed, Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations (former Minister of Environment, Nigeria); His Eminence, Muhammadu Sa’ad Abubakar, the Sultan of Sokoto, among others.