NIGERIA: NCF RAISE AWARENESS ON SAVING THE VULTURE
The Nigerian Conservation Foundation (NCF) is executing a project named “Egyptian Vulture New-Life Project” in a bid to raise public awareness on the need for the conservation of vultures in the country. On Saturday, September 21, 2019 over 100 bike riders, nature enthusiasts, conservationists and environmentalists converged at the Lekki Conservation Centre (LCC) for a rally tagged “A Mile for the Egyptian Vultures,” a cycling event organised by the NCF.
The procession started at LCC at 8:30am and went through the Lekki-Epe Expressway way to Sandfill bus-stop before returning to LCC amidst pomp and pageantry. The impactful awareness campaign called on people to put an end to the killing of the vulture, a bird whose parts are sold and used in traditional belief-based practices.
The Director General of NCF, Dr. Muhtari Aminu-Kano in his welcome address, appreciated all the participants and urged them to carry on the campaign till the goal is achieved. Also speaking, Dr. Ade Alakija, a council member of NCF gave a health pep talk, while the Director Technical Programmes of NCF, Dr. Joseph Onoja gave a motivating statement as the riders set out.
The environmentalists through research revealed that, vultures will soon go into extinction if drastic efforts are not made to stop the threats against the species. Vultures are Nature’s Sanitary Officers, carrion feeders that render clean-up services of the environment. They rid our environment of carcasses and rubbish. Thereby prevent the spread of diseases.
The cycling event was a follow-up to the International Vulture Awareness Day (IVAD) commemoration activities that the NCF carried out in 4 cities in Nigeria, Sokoto; Jalingo; Enugu and Ibadan earlier in the month.
Movie actor Yomi Fash-Lanso and musician Tito da Fire who are both Save Vulture Campaign Ambassadors were in attendance. The Lekki Concession Company, the managers of Lekki Toll and Lekki-Epe Expressway lend their support through effective management of traffic flow and provision of security.
The event ended in the Family Park of LCC at 10:30am.
