Stanbic IBTC Bank Joins Forces with Nigeria Conservation Foundation to Plant 30,000 Trees Across 10 States
LAGOS/Nigeria: In a remarkable partnership aimed at environmental restoration, the Nigeria Conservation Foundation (NCF) has joined forces with Stanbic IBTC Bank to embark on an ambitious tree planting initiative spanning 10 states within Nigeria. The official launch of this significant tree planting campaign unfolded at the serene backdrop of the Lekki Conservation Center (LCC) in Lagos.
During the event, Dr. Joseph Onoja, the Director-General of the NCF, expressed profound gratitude to Stanbic IBTC Bank for its commitment to the NCF’s vision of restoring Nigeria’s forest cover to 25 percent. Dr. Onoja emphasized the critical need for environmental conservation, especially in light of the adverse impacts of human activities on nature, particularly evident in the coastal areas of the Lekki Ajah corridor.
Dr. Onoja underlined the NCF’s four-decade-long commitment to nature conservation, biodiversity restoration, and the protection of endangered species. He also paid tribute to individuals who contributed significantly to the cause, including the late Chief Akintola Williams, a former member of the NCF’s Board of Trustees.
Highlighting Nigeria’s substantial loss of forest cover, Dr. Onoja lamented that the country’s forests have dwindled to less than 10 percent of their 1960s levels, largely due to unsustainable deforestation and logging practices. In response to this crisis, he unveiled the Green Recovery Nigeria project, aiming to revive at least 25 percent of Nigeria’s forest cover.
In his remarks, Dr. Demola Sogunle, Chief Executive Officer of Stanbic IBTC Holdings, expressed immense pride and gratitude for the launch of the tree planting initiative, which aims to plant 30,000 trees across 10 states. Sogunle described the initiative as a testament to Stanbic IBTC’s unwavering commitment to a sustainable future.
Sogunle emphasized the vital role trees play as the “lungs of our planet,” providing oxygen and absorbing carbon dioxide, while also serving as guardians of biodiversity. He lauded the collaborative effort with the NCF under the Green Recovery Nigeria initiative as an opportunity to contribute to a brighter and more sustainable future.
The Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Mr. Tokunbo Wahab, represented by Mr. Olabode Adeola, Deputy Director of Conservation and Ecology in the Ministry of Environment and Water Resources, highlighted the environmental significance of tree planting. Wahab underscored that trees act as carbon sinks, absorbing carbon dioxide and releasing oxygen, making them the “lungs of the earth.”
The event’s highlight was the symbolic planting of trees at the Lekki Conservation Center, symbolizing a significant step toward rejuvenating Nigeria’s forested landscapes and promoting environmental sustainability.
