Yemi Osinbajo Appointed President of Nigerian Conservation Foundation Board of Trustees

Yemi Osinbajo Appointed President of Nigerian Conservation Foundation Board of Trustees

Former Vice President Professor Yemi Osinbajo has been appointed President of the Board of Trustees (BoT) of the Nigerian Conservation Foundation (NCF), ushering in a new era of environmental leadership for one of Nigeria's foremost conservation organisations.

The appointment was announced on Wednesday during the foundation's Annual General Meeting (AGM) in Lagos, where Osinbajo officially succeeded Philip Asiodu, who stepped down after more than 25 years of distinguished service leading the board.

Osinbajo Takes the Helm at NCF

Announcing the leadership transition, R.I.B. Adebiyi, Chairperson of the NCF National Executive Council (NEC), praised Asiodu for his exceptional contributions to environmental conservation and institutional development.

She described his tenure as one marked by "wisdom, foresight and an unwavering commitment" to protecting Nigeria's environment, adding that he leaves behind a stronger organisation with a bold vision for forest restoration, biodiversity conservation and sustainable development.

Philip Asiodu's Enduring Legacy

A respected public servant and former Chief Economic Adviser to President Olusegun Obasanjo, Philip Asiodu championed Nigeria's ambition to achieve 25% forest cover while actively supporting the Great Green Wall Initiative to combat desertification across Africa.

Under his leadership, the Nigerian Conservation Foundation expanded its impact through habitat protection, community-based conservation programmes and environmental policy advocacy.

Why Osinbajo Was Chosen

Welcoming the former vice president, Adebiyi said Osinbajo's extensive experience in governance, climate policy and sustainable development makes him uniquely qualified to lead the organisation into its next phase.

> "We are honoured to welcome Professor Yemi Osinbajo as President of our Board of Trustees. His track record as Vice President, his leadership of Nigeria's Energy Transition Plan, and his advocacy for climate action and sustainable development make him uniquely qualified to guide NCF into the future. We believe his experience at the highest levels of government will help us scale our impact for people and nature."

Osinbajo served as Nigeria's Vice President from 2015 to 2023, during which he led the development of the country's Energy Transition Plan, a roadmap designed to achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2060.

He also chaired the National Council on Climate Change, championing policies that integrated forests, biodiversity and natural capital into Nigeria's national development agenda.

A New Chapter for Environmental Conservation in Nigeria

According to the foundation, Osinbajo's leadership is expected to deepen partnerships with government agencies, private sector organisations, development partners and local communities to expand conservation efforts nationwide.

The NCF is preparing to scale up programmes focused on:

Forest restoration

Wildlife conservation

Wetland protection

Climate resilience

Biodiversity preservation

Sustainable livelihoods for local communities

What This Means for Nigeria

Osinbajo's appointment comes at a critical time as Nigeria faces growing environmental challenges, including climate change, deforestation and biodiversity loss.

His expertise in climate governance and sustainable development is expected to strengthen the Nigerian Conservation Foundation's mission to protect the country's natural resources while promoting green economic growth.

As the NCF embarks on this new chapter, stakeholders are optimistic that Osinbajo's leadership will help accelerate conservation efforts and position Nigeria as a stronger voice in global environmental sustainability.

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