Ondo environmentalists take campaign against wildlife extinction to Lagos
By Mercy Omoike
Some Ondo-based environmentalists have taken the advocacy on the importance of wildlife conservation and waste-to-wealth creativities to Lagos State.
The Ondo State Goodwill Ambassador for Environment, Ms Olayemi Olapeju, at an art exhibition on Monday, urged Nigerians to desist from killing wildlife for food.
Olapeju said the art exhibition was organised to sensitise the public against killing wildlife for food.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the drive against the extinction of the African bush elephant and other wildlife in the country was inspired by America’s preservation of the American eagle from extinction.
The art exhibition involved the transformation of TV screen into canvas to unveil America eagle coins ‘thorncarving’.
The NO TO EXTINCTION ‘thorncarving’ exhibition takes centre stage in Lagos, as the artist and her team transform refuse TV screens into canvas to unveil America Eagle coins thorncarving.
The specific aim of the exhibition was to address the extinction of African bush elephants and promoting waste-to-wealth artwork.
The art exhibition, chaired by former Ondo State Commissioner for Environment, Dr Funso Esan, was to sensitise the public to the importance of wildlife conservation and waste to wealth creativities.
In his keynote address, Esan said that Africa should adopt a strong policy for habitat protection and conservation action.
According to him, wildlife is decimated by habitat destruction and illegal shooting, causing decrease in population.
“Extinction is forever and the wildlife current endangered state means there is still hope to pull the wildlife back from the brink of extinction.
“So, we need concerted efforts of both government and the public for our wildlife to be protected,” Esan said.
“The ‘thorncarving’ coins artwork we are showcasing today, that features the stately image of the celebrity United States of America bald eagle, which is glued on the screen of discarded skyworth television screen is to exemplify both waste to wealth initiative.
“It also portrays how wildlife that are at the risk of disappearing completely can soar back like we saw the soaring back of bald eagle bird in America.
“In 2008, U.S. government minted coins featuring bald eagle image to commemorate the return of bald eagle to America, so in due course, Africa Bush Elephants’ return from endangered will become a success story too,” he said.
On her part, Olapeju, explained that the artwork was created by NO TO EXTINCTION or L’EXTINCTION artist from Ondo State.
She explained that the thorn carving coins were carved by herself, Mrs Bolajoko Ayeni and Mr Charles Olulaja Akeredolu, son of thorn carving inventor, late Chief J. D. Akeredolu.
“We decided to transform junked television screen into valuable art canvas as part of waste-to-wealth artistic creativity to reduce environmental impact of non-biodegradable electronics on our landfills.
The eagle coins are also to represent wildlife that have made strong return from the brink of extinction,” she said. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)
Edited by Chinyere Joel-Nwokeoma
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