The Nigerian Conservation Foundation (NCF) has appealed for grants to support climate change initiatives, combat illegal wildlife trafficking, and advance conservation efforts across Nigeria.
Speaking in Abuja on Monday, the NCF’s Director-General, Dr. Joseph Onoja, emphasized the critical need for grant funding rather than loans to drive impactful climate action.
“Our lives depend on the environment. It is essential for us to care for it so it can, in turn, care for us,” Onoja said.
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He highlighted the financial strain loans impose on developing countries, especially with high interest rates, making grants a more sustainable funding option.
Dr. Onoja also called for transparency and accountability in the utilization of grants, stressing that funds must be effectively channeled toward meaningful development projects.
He urged greater stakeholder involvement in wildlife conservation, emphasizing the urgent need to raise awareness to curb illegal wildlife trafficking, which threatens biodiversity and undermines conservation efforts.
The Director-General’s appeal underscores the importance of collaborative action and sustainable funding to address the dual challenges of climate change and wildlife protection in Nigeria.
The Nigerian Conservation Foundation (NCF) is the premier Non Governmental Organisation (NGO) dedicated to nature conservation and sustainable development in Nigeria. Established in 1980, the Foundation was registered in 1982 as a Charitable Trust under the Land (Perpetual Succession) Act of 1961 – a policy that was replaced by the Company and Allied Matters Act of 1990. Founded by late Chief S. L. Edu, NCF has its patron as the President and Commander- In-Chief of the Armed Force of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
The Foundation has a vision of “a Nigeria where people prosper while living in harmony with nature”. This vision drives its Mission to preserve the full range of Nigeria’s biodiversity which includes species, ecosystems and genetic biodiversity; promote the sustainable use of natural resources for the benefit of present and future generations; and advocate actions that minimise pollution and wasteful utilisation of renewable resources.
