Director of the A.P. Leventis Ornithological Research Institute and Centre of Excellence (APLORI), University of Jos, Prof. Adams Chaksda,
The Director of the A.P. Leventis Ornithological Research Institute and Centre of Excellence (APLORI), University of Jos, Prof. Adams Chaksda, has urged the Federal Government to renew its commitment to the sustainable management of natural resources.
Chaksda made the call during the 9th APLORI Lecture Series held on Monday in Jos.
This year’s lecture was themed “Bringing Nature and People Back to Life – Gashaka Gumti and Okomu National Parks.”
He warned that failure to decisively manage the country’s natural resources could trigger severe ecological and environmental crises.
Chaksda noted that the lecture series, instituted in honour of APLORI founder Dr. Anastasios Leventis, provides a platform for distinguished conservation experts to share knowledge and advance environmental awareness.
He explained that global warming, deforestation, and other forms of environmental degradation have reached alarming levels, making sustainable resource management both urgent and unavoidable.
“The sustainable use and management of natural resources is not a matter of choice but of necessity. We must act now to restore balance in our environment and preserve the earth for future generations,” he said.
The Guest Speaker and Executive Director of Africa Nature Investors (ANI) Foundation, Dr. Tunde Morakinyo, emphasised the connection between human well-being and the health of natural ecosystems.
He explained that ANI is currently working with the National Park Service under a 30-year agreement with the Federal Government to restore ecosystems in the protected national parks while supporting livelihoods around them.
Morakinyo reiterated the vast potential of Nigeria’s national parks and the need for a holistic conservation approach.
“Conservation must be beneficial to people living around protected areas. Only when communities and government see tangible economic returns can environmental protection be sustained,” he said.
Also speaking, the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Jos, Prof. Tanko Ishaya, commended APLORI for championing biodiversity research and conservation in Nigeria.
Represented by the Deputy Vice Chancellor (Administration), Prof. Rahila Gowon, Ishaya pledged continued institutional support for the centre.
In his remarks, the founder of the institute, Dr. Leventis, reaffirmed that conservation is both a scientific responsibility and a moral duty.
He said that since its establishment in 2002, APLORI has remained West Africa’s foremost institute for ornithological research, conservation training, and ecological leadership.
