Be Proud Of The Unique Images In Nigeria, US Amb. Tells Nigerians

0
358

By; VITALIS UGOH, Calabar
The US Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. Stuart Symington, has appealed to Nigerians to learn to be proud of all the unique images scattered across the country wherever they found themselves.
He declared “think Nigeria, speak Nigeria, anywhere and  anytime”.
He made the appeal in Calabar while commemorating Earth Day at Drill Ranch to mark the occasion.
Nigeria, he said, has a world class natural images which unfortunately “are not known by many Nigerians”.
Symington said “a lot of people come here in Nigeria to enjoy the extraordinary beauty of the country. The number one business in US is tourism which earns the country well over $600 million annually from Yellow Stone National Park”.
According to him, “the only way this campaign can benefit Nigerians is by educating our people on the need to appreciate and protect our natural and unique images”.
He called on both Federal and state governments to introduce the education of environment on our young boys and girls on all the exciting images of importance of tourist sites in Nigeria.
By so doing, “this will be the greatest contribution we would have bequeathed them. Educate them on the abundant natural and unique images in Nigeria”.
The Ambassador who gave the theme of this year’s celebration as “Environmental and Climate Literacy”, called on all stakeholders to use this opportunity to highlight US best practices in Conservation.
He said “awareness of conservation is growing in the Nigeria and nationwide reforestations programme with indigenous species and local involvement has been launched to regain forest cover and improve community livelihood”.
Symington said “Nigeria has the highest deforestation rate of natural forest in the world. Nigeria has been losing an average of 11 percent of its primary forests per year”.
He recalled that “all over the world, people  are united in sharing their insight on our natural wonders. The challenges of wisely managing the natural beauty and diversity of Nigeria is not the test of one generation of Nigerians, but the test of all generations”.
In his remarks, the Conservator-General, Alhaji Yakubu,  Mohammed Kolo, who was represented by the deputy Conservator, Caroline Olory, appealed to all stakeholders to cooperate with the National Park so as to achieve its set objectives.
He commended the host communities for the cooperation it had received from them while carrying out their official duties and sued for more.
Cross River National Park is among the seven remaining rain forest in the country and needed to be protected from going extinct.
Also speaking the co-founder and director of the Drill Ranch, Liza Gadsby, recalled that “there is nothing anyone can do on this earth without water, soil and animal”.
She sued for cooperation from all and sundry to be able to keep the over 25 years Drill Ranch afloat.
Earlier Dr. Joseph Onoja, director of technical programmes, Nigerian Conservation Foundation, said “150 schools are engaged on environment related issues monthly in Lagos state”.
He called on the three tiers of government to take the issue of creating awareness on our natural conservation more serious by way of inculcating it on our younger generations.
The ceremony was attended by Consecrators as well as Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) in the state.

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here