The Pan African Vision for the Environment (PAVE) on Wednesday, April 23, 2025, held a zero waste ambassadors project and capacity building for actors in the waste management sector in Lagos State.
Participants at the event
The workshop is a component of the Multi-solving Action to Methane Reduction in Nigeria (MAMRN).
Speaking at the workshop at the Coker-Aguda Local Council Development Area (LCDA), the Executive Director of PAVE, Mr. Anthony Akpan, said it was targeted at inculcating the value of systematic waste reduction at source.
Akpan described the workshop as timely in mitigating the vagaries of climate change.
He said the workshop, titled: “A One Day Awareness and Capacity Building Workshop for Households in Coker-Aguda LCDA on Organic Waste Management to Reduce Methane Emission,” underscored the importance of waste segregation to ensure that nothing was wasted.
“Designed as a collaborative, multi-stakeholder initiative, MAMRN aims to tackle methane emissions from organic waste through the implementation of data-driven, community-led zero-waste strategies.
“The project underscores the critical role of methane as a short-lived climate pollutant, highlighting the urgency to curb emissions using practical, inclusive, and scalable waste management approaches.
“Funded by the Global Methane Hub and implemented in partnership with the Global Alliance for Incinerator Alternatives, the MAMRN project brings together a consortium of Nigerian organisations,” Akpan said.
According to him, the project is being piloted across four key urban centres: Lagos, Abuja, Jos, and Benin City.
Akpan noted that an inception workshop was held on March 3, 2025, to ensure alignment and synergy across the consortium, convening project leads and representatives of all implementing partners.
Also speaking, Mr. Sunday Ogidan, CDC Chairman of Coker-Aguda LCDA, expressed excitement at the workshop.
Ogidan said there was the need to lay a very good foundation in tapping waste management value chain for economic growth and development.
He said the training would go a long way in reducing emission from organic wastes generated at home.
“I believe that when our people go back to their neighbourhood, they will be able to cascade the training,” Ogidan said.
Mr. Debo Dawodu, a participant at the workshop, thanked PAVE for bringing the awareness to the LCDA.
Dawodu pledged the commitment of the farmers in the practical deployment of learnings from the workshop.
The Multi-Solving Action to Methane Reduction in Nigeria project represents a transformative step in environmental landscape.
The workshop was hosted in Lagos with both in-person and remote participation, effectively launching the project’s operational phase.
The workshop was also held at Apapa-Iganmu and Itire-Ikate LCDAs.
The Ondo State Goodwill Ambassador for Environment, Ms. Olayemi Olapeju, has commiserated with the families of wildlife attack victims across the world.
Malam Balarabe Lawal, Minister of Environment
Olapeju, who inaugurated No To Extinction Art For Environment, commiserated with the victims at Elegbeka Farm Settlement in Ose Local Government of the state on Wednesday, April 23, 2025.
The ambassador, who organised one-week activities to mark World Earth Day, said that the day should not be observed on only April 22, due to its significance and benefit to humanity.
World Earth Day was first observed in 1970 and has been observed yearly to raise awareness for sustainable environment.
According to her, observing the World Earth Day on daily basis will serve as a reminder to protect the environment, air, water, biodiversity including wildlife and humans being on earth.
She explained that the theme of 2025, “Our Power, Our Planet”, focused on the transition to renewable energy, and contributed to maintain a safe and clean environment for coming generations.
According to her, wildlife conservation impacts more than just animals, because we cannot protect wildlife without protecting people living with wildlife.
“I have been coming across headlines of human-wildlife conflicts since I was a teenager and In Nigeria, there have been several incidents of lion attacks.
“I remember vividly in the 1980s, when a lion mauled its keeper to death at Ikogosi Warm Spring in Ekiti State, a lion also killed at Agodi zoo gardens in Ibadan, Oyo State.
“Another recent one was the killing of a zookeeper at Obafemi Awolowo University zoo in Osun State.
“In addition, there are several reports of elephant attacks, particularly the tourist that was trampled and killed by an elephant in Kruger National Park, South Africa.
“Also, a 14-year-old girl was killed by a lion at a ranch in Nairobi National Park, Kenya, and the 54-year-old man killed by an elephant also at Mere Forest in Kenya last Saturday.
“My deep condolences go to the bereaved families of these people who lost their family members to wildlife attacks over the decades,” she said.
Olapeju, therefore, distributed some renewable energy solar lights and the stipends generated from the sales of thorn carving wildlife sculptures to the people in the community.
“I believe in humanity and want to use my position as a goodwill ambassador for environment to enact good initiatives that will benefit the environment and victims of wildlife attacks,” she said.
A victim, Mr. James Muhammed, who lost one eye due to injuries sustained in the forest during hunting, thanked Olapeju for her kind gesture and educating them about the importance of protecting the earth.
He urged the government to also come to their aid and give more assistance to end their suffering and poverty.
Remarks of the UN Secretary-General, António Guterres, to journalists following Leaders Session on Climate and the Just Transition, convened on Wednesday, April 23, 2025, by the Secretary-General and President Lula of Brazil.
The Leaders Session was a closed-door virtual session, attended by a cross-section of world leaders, including from some of the world’s largest economies and most climate-vulnerable countries.
Participants included Chair of the African Union (AU) – Mr. João Manuel Gonçalves Lourenço, President of the Republic of Angola; Chair of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) – Ms. Mia Amor Mottley, SC, MP, Prime Minister of Barbados; Mr. Gabriel Boric Font, President of the Republic of Chile; Mr. Xi Jinping, President of the People’s Republic of China; Mr. António Costa, President of the European Council / Ms. Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission; Mr. Emmanuel Macron, President of the French Republic; Mr. William Samoei Ruto, C.G.H., President of the Republic of Kenya; Chair of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) – Mr. Anwar Ibrahim, Prime Minister of Malaysia; Ms. Hilda Heine, President of the Republic of the Marshall Islands; Mr. Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, President, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria; Chair of the Alliance of Small Island States (AOSIS) – Mr. Surangel S. Whipps Jr., President of the Republic of Palau; Mr. Han Duck-soo, Acting President and Prime Minister of Korea; Mr. Pedro Sánchez Pérez-Castejón, President of the Government of Spain; Ms. Samia Suluhu Hassan, President of the United Republic of Tanzania; Mr. Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, President of the Republic of Türkiye; and, Mr. Pham Minh Chinh, Prime Minister of the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam.
Excerpts:
UN Secretary-General, António Guterres
May I first express to the Government and people of Türkiye my full solidarity in this difficult moment.
President Lula of Brazil and I just concluded a unique meeting with a cross-section of world leaders focused on climate action and a just transition.
The gathering included 17 participants at level of heads of state and government representing some of the world’s largest economies — including China and the European Union — and some of the world’s most climate vulnerable countries.
We also had leaders currently chairing important regional partnerships — the African Union, ASEAN, and the Alliance of Small Island States and CARICOM, along with many others.
It was among the most diverse meetings of heads of state focused exclusively on climate in some time.
Yet I heard a unifying message.
Yes, our world faces massive headwinds and a multitude of crises.
But we cannot allow climate commitments to be blown off course.
We must keep building momentum for action at COP30 in Brazil — and today was an important part of that effort.
We don’t have a moment to lose.
No region is being spared from the ravages of accelerating climate catastrophes.
And the crisis is deepening poverty, displacing communities, and fuelling conflict and instability.
At the same time, countries are waking up to a clear fact:
Renewables are the economic opportunity of the century.
Dissenters and fossil fuel interests may try to stand in the way.
But as we heard today, the world is moving forward. Full-speed ahead.
No group or government can stop the clean energy revolution.
Science is on our side — and economics have shifted.
Prices for renewables have plummeted and the sector is booming — creating jobs and boosting competitiveness and growth worldwide.
The pathway out of climate hell is paved by renewables.
They offer the surest route to energy sovereignty and security, and ending dependence on volatile and expensive fossil fuel imports.
We also know collective climate action works.
Since the adoption of the Paris Agreement, the projected global warming-curve has been bent down — from over four degrees of temperature rise within this century, to 2.6 degrees if current national climate action plans are fully implemented.
But that is catastrophic so we must go further and faster.
Today, I urged leaders to take action on two fronts.
First — to step up efforts to submit the strongest possible national climate plans well ahead of COP30.
And leaders today committed to put forward ambitious and robust plans as soon as possible what was a strong message of hope.
These new climate plans offer a unique opportunity to lay out a bold vision for a just green transition over the next decade.
They should align with 1.5 degrees and set emissions-reduction targets that cover all greenhouse gases and the whole economy as several today mentioned clearly.
Most importantly, they should help speed-up a just transition away from fossil fuels to renewables…
Link national energy and development strategies with climate goals…
And signal to policymakers and investors alike a total commitment to achieving global net-zero carbon emissions by 2050.
Second — as leaders turbocharge their own transitions, I urged them to scale-up support for developing countries.
Those least responsible for climate change are suffering from its worst effects.
Africa and other parts of the developing world are experiencing faster warming —and the Pacific islands are seeing faster sea-level rise — even while the global average itself is accelerating.
Meanwhile, despite being home to 60 per cent of the world’s best solar resources, Africa has only around 1.5 per cent of installed solar capacity – and receives just two per cent of global investment into renewables.
We need to change this — fast.
At COP30, leaders must deliver a credible roadmap to mobilise $1.3 trillion a year for developing countries by 2035.
Developed countries must honour their promise to double adaptation finance to at least $40 billion a year, by this year.
And we need significantly increased contributions and innovative sources of finance to support the Fund for responding to Loss and Damage.
Across all these fronts, we will keep up the push — including at a special event in September in the final weeks to COP30.
As today’s meeting made clear, we cannot, must not, and will not let up on climate action.
Question & Answer Session
Amelie Bottelier from AFP news agency:You said no group or government can stop the revolution of clean energy. Do you have specific countries in mind- especially the United States? And more generally, what is your message to President Trump, who clearly said that he wants to push for more extraction of fossil fuels?
Secretary-General: Well, the United States is a market economy. It’s not the government that determines the volume that is produced by fossil fuels or that is produced by renewable energy. And we have in the United States, because the economics are clear today, the cost of renewables is cheaper than the cost of fossil fuels. In the United States, we see the private sector with a very dynamic action, and we see many governments that committed themselves to the same objective. So, I think we need to look into the United States in the complexity of the US society and not only in the positions taken by the leaders of the country.
Felipe from TV Globo Brazil: I would like to know if China was in this meeting. And if there was any progress that would make you confident that countries will release their NDCs by September or maybe before?
Secretary-General: China was in the meeting. And China has not only announced that they would produce their Nationally Determined Contribution, but President Xi said that those Nationally Determined Contributions would cover all economic sectors and all greenhouse gases. It’s the first time that China clarifies this point, and this is extremely important for climate action. Thank you.
Wednesday, April 23, 2025, marks the official launch of the Sports for Climate Action training course – a step forward in the broader capacity-building programme under the UN Climate Change Sports for Climate Action Initiative.
UN Climate Change Executive Secretary, Simon Stiell. Photo credit: Phil Dera Photography
The new online training course is designed to support sports organisations – from local clubs to international governing bodies – in adopting and implementing sustainable practices that reduce their environmental impact.
The training was developed with the support of sportswear giant, adidas, as part of its “Move for the Planet” initiative, which aims to harness the power of sporting communities to promote sustainability and climate action.
Through the UN Climate Change Sports for Climate Action Initiative, sports organisations can become catalysts for environmental responsibility, community engagement and global collaboration.
Launched in 2018, the Sports for Climate Action Framework provides guidance for climate action and environmental sustainability in the sports sector – leveraging the global reach of sport to raise awareness and drive systemic change. With over 250 members, the initiative continues to grow as a powerful force for transformation across the industry.
UN Climate Change Executive Secretary, Simon Stiell, said: “Providing opportunities for learning and training, as well as the opportunity to connect with others across the wider sports community is one way we are able to support sports communities to take action. Through Sports for Climate Action, we encourage sports organizations to take meaningful steps – whether by making events more sustainable, reducing their carbon footprint, or using their platforms to inspire fans and communities.”
UN Climate Change has partnered with adidas and the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) to tap into the potential of sport as a universal force for unity and collective climate action at the local level.
Ashley Czarnowski, Senior Director of Global Purpose Marketing at adidas, said:“We’re delighted to welcome back ‘Move for the Planet’ for a third year. It’s an extremely important initiative that helps to support sporting communities facing the effects of extreme weather. With the continued expansion of sports and projects included in ‘Move for the Planet’, we can’t wait to see the movement and impact grow even further.”
Explore the Courses:
Introduction to Sports for Climate Action: Designed for anyone interested in how sports and climate change intersect, this course explores how sport contributes to and is affected by climate change, and what can be done to build a more sustainable, resilient sports sector. It comprises four short modules (about one hour and 20 minutes in total) featuring interactive lessons, videos, quizzes and practical activities.
Sports for Climate Action: Geared primarily toward staff of sports organizations, this advanced course builds on the introductory course and offers actionable strategies for integrating climate considerations into operations, business planning, and stakeholder engagement. The course includes five in-depth modules (about four hours in total) with case studies, expert interviews, and practical exercises.
Both courses have been developed by UNITAR and are available on UN CC: e-Learn platform. They are fully online, self-paced and free of charge.
What’s next?
A dedicated training series for grassroots sports NGOs is on the way, aimed at empowering local communities with the knowledge and tools they need to co-design climate solutions that reflect their realities and priorities. This upcoming initiative will further extend the reach of the Sports for Climate Action Initiative, ensuring that climate action through sport is inclusive, community-led and impactful.
Policy Shapers, a civic-tech organisation based in Port Harcourt, has announced the official launch of the Rivers 2050 Vision, a 25-year development blueprint to be co-created by citizens across Rivers State, Nigeria. As part of the launch, the organisation has opened a public statewide survey to collect the dreams, ideas, and priorities of residents to inform the visioning process.
Port Harcourt, Rivers State
The Rivers 2050 Vision has been described as a bold, youth-led initiative aimed at shaping a roadmap for sustainable development across all 23 Local Government Areas (LGAs) of Rivers State. Citizens are invited to share their perspectives through the official survey now live atbit.ly/rivers2050.
Over 100 young professionals from diverse backgrounds within and outside Rivers State have joined the Rivers 2050 Task Force, working through sub-committees to facilitate town hall meetings, key informant interviews, focus group discussions, and data collection exercises.
“We believe that the future of public policy must be co-created by the people it is meant to serve,” said Ebenezar Wikina, Founder of Policy Shapers and Convener of the Rivers 2050 Vision. “This project is not just about a document; it’s about building a civic culture of participation, imagination, and accountability. Rivers State deserves a future shaped by its people, especially its youth.”
To provide leadership and strategic oversight, a Steering Committee has been appointed from among the task force members. The committee comprises: Udokanma Georgewill, Chair, Book Committee; Wisdom Chapp-Jumbo, Partnerships Lead; Awajimimam J.S. Egop, Chair, Launch Committee; Mmesoma Augustine, Chair, Survey Committee; and Birah Zorbai Jr., Chair, Focus Group Committee.
The insights collected through the survey and wider engagement activities will contribute to the development of the vision book, “Rivers 2050: Our Vision”, a citizen-authored strategic document that outlines practical aspirations for the future of Rivers State.
The official website for the project, www.Rivers2050.org, will launch on April 30, 2025, providing updates, publications, and ways for the public to get involved.
Recent news reports that the US government may impose new curbs on charitable giving are profoundly worrying. The ability of charities, funders, and philanthropies to operate and deliver support unhindered in America and globally is vital not only to those who benefit from aid, but also to those who give it
Pope Francis. Photo credit: dailytimes.com.ng
Every Easter, Christians remember how at the Last Supper, on the eve of Jesus’s crucifixion, hope seemed to be lost. Most of Jesus’s closest friends were about to deny and desert him. All that lay ahead was torture and a hideous death. But in this moment of despair, Jesus made himself a gift for all, giving bread to the disciples and saying, “This is my body given for you.” This act of hope extended into Easter morning, when life triumphed over death, love over hatred, and divine giving over human grasping.
As we mourn the death of Pope Francis, our hope following this Easter Sunday is that even the smallest acts of kindness can bear fruit beyond our imagining. Let’s remember that when faced with 5,000 hungry people, all the disciples could muster were five loaves of bread and a couple of fish. But it was enough to feed everyone, with the blessing of the Lord of the harvest.
Our world is plagued by poverty and violence – problems that seem impossible to solve – at a time when the postwar global order is in danger of collapse. Christian charities – Catholic Relief Services, World Vision, Samaritan’s Purse, and Jesuit Refugee Service come to mind, among many others – are playing an admirable role in helping alleviate this suffering. When so many people have no hope for the future, these charities’ efforts in the United States and globally are fundamental to our faith.
That role will become even more important in the coming years, as major economies cut their foreign-aid budgets, inflicting profound damage on vulnerable people, each one made in the image of God. Boston University’s new digital tracking initiative estimates that the near-total freeze on US foreign-aid funding and programming since January has already resulted in the deaths of more than 68,000 adults and more than 142,000 children.
Judaism and Islam also insist that charitable giving is essential to a life of faith, rather than an optional extra. The word “charity” comes from the Latin caritas, which means “love.” In that sense, charities express what is fundamental to our human dignity: the ability to give freely and to receive gifts without shame.
True, some aid can be patronising and humiliating, imprisoning people in a culture of dependence. But this is not how most of these charities work. Instead, they recognise that the most vulnerable and fragile among us bear witness to oft-forgotten aspects of human dignity: resilience, solidarity, mutual dependence, trust in God and each other, and gratitude. Jesus says that whoever reaches out to “one of the least of these” gives to him.
To turn away from the poorest is to reject God. Above all, aid sustains family life, especially the women and children whom it should be unthinkable to abandon. Nikolai Berdyaev, the Russian existentialist philosopher, wrote: “Bread for myself is a material question; bread for my neighbor is a spiritual question.” For Christians, the ultimate act of giving is shown in Christ’s shedding of his blood on the cross. For all of us, whether religious or not, charity is life-giving blood, which circulates in the body of society, nourishing life with its kindness.
Given this, recent reports in Reuters, Bloomberg, the New York Times, and the Financial Times that the US government may impose new curbs on charitable giving are profoundly worrying. The ability of charities, funders, and philanthropies to operate and deliver support unhindered in the US and globally is vital not only to those who benefit from aid, but also to those who give it. A society in which charitable giving is deliberately restricted would be doomed to poverty itself, both financial and moral.
Pope Francis devoted his life to serving the poor and tackling injustice. His final Easter “Urbi et Orbi” message is worth reflecting on: “I appeal to all those in positions of political responsibility in our world not to yield to the logic of fear which only leads to isolation from others, but rather to use the resources available to help the needy, to fight hunger, and to encourage initiatives that promote development.”
Hope, faith, and charity are the foundational virtues of Christianity. Although many of us were running low on hope this Easter, our faith remains strong, as must our common commitment to charity.
Timothy Radcliffe, the first Englishman to be elected Master of the worldwide Dominican Order in its 800-year-history, was created Cardinal by Pope Francis on December 9, 2024
The Federal Ministry of Women Affairs (FMoWA) has partnered with key stakeholders in the energy sector to end premature deaths caused by firewood and traditional cooking stoves toxins.
Minister of Women Affairs, Hajiya Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim
Minister of Women Affairs, Hajiya Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim, said this during a multi-stakeholder engagement in Abuja on Wednesday, April 23, 2025, expressing optimism that the initiative would end energy poverty for Nigerian women.
Sulaiman-Ibrahim added that, through the use of solar powered equipment for agricultural development, the initiative would promote clean home solutions.
“Over 80,000 women die prematurely from the toxic smoke of firewood and traditional cooking stoves; hence the efforts aim to reach Nigerian women across all 774 Local Government Areas.
“Energy poverty is not just a technical challenge, it is a social injustice.
“It locks women in cycles of unpaid labour, economic dependence, and health risks. In many communities, women spend up to eight hours a week gathering firewood.
“Through this initiative, we will provide access to energy through solar home systems, clean cooking technologies, solar water pumps, e-mobility tools, and other productive-use appliances in every corner of this nation,” she said.
Mr. Abba Abubakar-Aliyu, Managing Director, Rural Electrification Agency (REA), said under the $550 million Nigerian Electrification Project, about eight million Nigerians and 35,000 businesses were impacted, out of which 12,000 were women led businesses.
He added that President Bola Tinubu approved $750 million off grid project out of which $410 million had been earmarked for mini grids and $240 million for solar home system.
“So, there is a huge opportunity for us to replicate and to make sure that we scale this intervention across the country,” he said.
Mr. Khalil Halilu, Executive Vice Chairman/Chief Executive Officer, National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI), described energy poverty as one of the greatest barriers to the advancement of women, especially in rural communities.
Halilu was represented by Dr Olayode Olasupo, Director, Manufacturing Services, NASENI.
According to him, poverty ranges from a lack of access to clean energy for cooking to access to energy for lighting and other essential social systems.
“This thereby limits access to critical services, restricts economic opportunities and compromises health and safety,” he said.
The second phase of a comprehensive training programme targeting cassava farmers and food processors was held in South-West Nigeria with 1,200 cassava farmers and 200 food processors across five locations in Oyo State – Iseyin, Ijaye, Oyo, Serafu, and Soku were trained on good agronomic practices (GAP), cassava value addition, farm mechanisation, and the processing of high-quality cassava flour.
Some of the participants at the training with trainers from Master Bakers. Photo credit: AATF
The training was organised under the Mechanisation of Cassava Production and Processing Project, the initiative is being implemented by the African Agricultural Technology Foundation (AATF) in collaboration with the National Root Crops Research Institute (NRCRI) and is funded by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development through the Fund for the Promotion of Innovation in Agriculture (i4Ag).
The project coordinator, Mr. Taiwo Samuel Ogunleye, stated that the programme’s objective is not only to boost cassava yield but also to encourage value addition beyond traditional products like gari and fufu.
“This initiative is part of AATF’s broader commitment to enhancing the productivity and income potential of Nigeria’s cassava value chain,” he explained.
Dr. Adeyemi Olojede, Director of Tuber Crops Research at NRCRI Umudike and team lead for the initiative, emphasised the project’s long-term goal of empowering 6,000 farmers and 1,000 food processors in the region over a three-year period.
“This hands-on training is designed to improve cassava productivity and significantly enhance the livelihoods of farmers and processors,” he said.
Dr. Olojede also highlighted the importance of promoting the use of High-Quality Cassava Flour (HQCF) as a means of boosting income diversification for rural households. He noted that experts from NRCRI, the Nigerian Stored Products Research Institute (NSPRI) Ilorin, and the Master Bakers Association in Abuja have been deployed to ensure the training’s success.
A key feature of the programme is its emphasis on women and youth empowerment, particularly in processing activities. The 200 participating processors, primarily women from Oyo State, were also trained in the economics and techniques of HQCF production, helping to create new opportunities and improve household incomes.
Participants expressed gratitude to the organisers for equipping them with essential skills that will enable them to adopt modern farming techniques, embrace mechanisation, and tap into value-added cassava products.
This second training phase follows the inaugural session held in 2024, during which over 800 farmers and processors were trained. The programme will conclude in 2026, reaching its target of 6,000 trained farmers and 1,000 trained food processors, fulfilling AATF’s commitment made during the commissioning of the Cassava Mechanisation and Agro-Processing Facility in Fashola, Oyo State, in April 2024.
By bridging the knowledge and technology gap in cassava production, the training is expected to contribute significantly to national food security and rural economic development.
On International Bat Appreciation Day, observed on April 17, 2025, conservationist Benneth Obitte underscored the critical role bats play in sustaining ecosystems and preventing disease outbreaks. Speaking to journalists, Obitte emphasised that the health of human populations is deeply connected to the wellbeing of wildlife, particularly bats, and the ecosystems they inhabit.
Bats
Bats and Human Health: An Overlooked Connection
“Science has proven that our health is directly tied to the health of our environment and the animals living in it,” Obitte said. “When bats are stressed, their risk of shedding viruses increases, just like rodents. As human activity encroaches on their habitats, the chances of contact – and transmission – rise.”
Obitte explained that bats are essential for ecosystem balance. “We rely on healthy bat populations to pollinate plants, control agricultural pests, and even reduce disease vectors like mosquitoes,” he noted. “Some bat species consume their body weight in insects each night, helping to suppress pests that would otherwise decimate crops and spread disease.”
Ecosystem Engineers: Bats as Pollinators and Seed Dispersers
Obitte highlighted the ecological importance of fruit bats, which serve as mobile seed dispersers. “Fruit bats often fly hundreds of kilometers each night, feeding on fruits and dispersing seeds across forests,” he said. “As they consume fruit juice mid-flight, they drop seeds far from the parent plant – an act that promotes reforestation and plant diversity.”
He added that insectivorous bats are also vital pollinators, especially for plants that bloom at night. “In the U.S. and Europe, bats save farmers millions of dollars annually by reducing the need for chemical insecticides,” he said. “Their ecological services are both invisible and invaluable.”
Public Health Implications: The Zoonotic Threat
While bats can carry viruses, Obitte clarified that the real danger comes from human encroachment. “Zoonotic diseases – those that jump from animals to humans – are more likely when natural barriers are broken,” he warned. One bat species, Rousettus aegyptiacus, has been linked to Marburg hemorrhagic fever, a deadly virus similar to Ebola. “This species is heavily hunted in Nigeria. If even one infected bat comes into close contact with humans, it could spark a public health crisis.”
Habitat Loss and Overexploitation: The Greatest Threats
According to Obitte, the biggest threats to bats in Nigeria are habitat loss and overexploitation. “Smallholder farming, logging, and tree felling are destroying the habitats bats need to survive,” he said. “These activities also threaten many other species.”
He pointed out that overhunting is a growing concern. “The chocolate fruit bat, Africa’s most hunted bat, is being wiped out across the continent. While some species can escape to new habitats, others – especially cave dwellers – are vulnerable to mass killings.”
Lack of Data and Research Gaps
Nigeria is home to over 100 bat species, but Obitte noted that the conservation status of many remains unknown due to insufficient data. “Some species may already be endangered, but we lack the research to confirm it. At the Small Mammal Conservation Organization, we are training new scientists to close this knowledge gap and provide data-driven conservation solutions.”
Obitte called for the enforcement and modernization of Nigeria’s endangered species laws. “Many of our wildlife protection laws are outdated and poorly enforced. We need urgent reforms and better coordination,” he said.
He also emphasized the need for widespread sensitization. “Most people don’t even know their actions – like hunting bats – are illegal. Education and public engagement are key to changing behavior.
Bats are indispensable to healthy ecosystems, food security, and disease prevention. Conserving them isn’t just about saving wildlife – it’s about safeguarding human lives. As Obitte put it: “We don’t need to fear bats if we respect their habitats. But if we continue to destroy the natural buffers between humans and wildlife, we open the door to the next pandemic.”
Fifty-five years after the first Earth Day celebration, the theme “Our Power, Our Planet” was chosen to commemorate the 2025 edition of this annual event. Earth Day is aimed at demonstrating support for environmental protection.
The ecosystem is already under pressure from various environmental challenges. Photo credit: Mayowa Adebote (2025)
Back on April 22, 1970, when the inaugural Earth Day was observed, many people were not aware of the power they held as individuals, industries, companies, and even nations. Today, as various environmental challenges impact different regions of the world, it is inspiring to see over 1 billion people in more than 193 countries recognising the potential within their hands to change our shared planet for the better.
Driven by the effect of environmental challenges such as the global warming, fossil fuel dependence, food and biodiversity loss, plastic pollution, and air pollution, the diverse range of events organised globally sends a clear and urgent message for us to use “our power” to protect “our planet.” This is not merely a slogan or campaign title; it should be viewed as a directive. We must acknowledge that the power to alter the course of the climate crisis lies not in distant promises or isolated efforts but in our collective will.
In addition to the human power we hold, this year’s theme highlights power as a resource. In line with the ambitious goal to triple clean electricity through renewable energy by 2030, outlined in the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 7, we must ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable, and modern energy for all.
The world is at a crossroad. As we confront the impacts of climate change, environmental degradation, and energy inequality, it has become clear that the only viable path forward is a complete transition to renewable energy. This shift is not only essential for securing the planet’s future but also for addressing a range of pressing issues that threaten both human health and the environment.
The call to move from fossil fuels to renewable energy is no longer a distant ideal; it is a present-day imperative. The science is clear, the impacts are visible, and the clock is ticking. However, beyond environmental slogans and climate summits lies a simple truth: continuing down our current path is unsustainable, not only for Earth but for ourselves.
Fossil fuels have powered human progress for centuries but at a steep cost. From polluting city air with toxic emissions to destabilising our climate through carbon overload, their legacy is both powerful and destructive. Renewable energy offers a promising future – one where the skies are clearer and the air we breathe is no longer a silent killer.
Our ecosystem is already under pressure from various environmental challenges. We are approaching planetary boundaries while facing additional threats from rising temperatures and acidifying oceans. We have the option to explore renewable energy sources such as solar and wind to significantly lessen the burden on our lands and waters, helping to preserve the fragile balance of life on Earth.
Beyond renewable power from solar, wind, or hydro, we must recognise and harness our moral, intellectual, and collective power – the ingenuity of engineers, the determination of researchers, the activism of communities, and the boldness of youth who refuse to inherit a broken world.
The future isn’t waiting, and neither should we. Happy Earth Day 2025!
By David Praise Fashakin and ‘Seyifunmi Adebote
Fashakin is a Mechanical Engineering Student at the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, and a Renewable Energy Enthusiast
Adebote is an Environmentalist and Communication Professional, a diplomat-in-training and International Development Practitioner. He hosts the Climate Talk Podcast and GreenBytes Wednesday series
