The Ramsar Convention on Wetlands

World Wetlands Day 2008 -- Nigeria

Report on the World Wetlands Day 2008

The Nigerian Conservation Foundation joins the rest of the world in celebrating the World Wetlands Day (WWD) on Tuesday 2nd & Thursday 7th of February 2008 with the theme Healthy wetlands Healthy people.

On Tuesday 2nd, the WWD was celebrated at the Hadejia Nguru wetlands, Nigeria's only Ramsar Site with field trips to the wetland and a lecture to students and the general public.

On Thursday 7th an outreach and cleanup was organised at a wetland community -Badore. The community is one of the fastest growing suburbs of the Lagos Island, located in Eti Osa East Local Government Area of Lagos State. The livelihood rhythm of the settlement around the jetty is obviously low as young and old can be seen wallowing in a typical unhygienic domain.

At the community a talk was given to the indigenes on the theme by Mr Alade Adeleke -Director Technical Programmes NCF .Mr Adeleke emphasized the need for a clean and healthy environment and the benefits of the wetlands. He encouraged the indigenes to stop using the wetlands as a dumping site for their waste. After the presentation a clean up of the jetty was done in collaboration with two of NCF's schools Conservation Clubs - Lagos State Model College Badore and Atlantic Hall, Poka-Epe, the local government and the community. About 10 tonnes of garbage was collected.

A Dumpsite is being constructed by NCF for the community away from the wetland and regular collection of the waste has been organised. Lagos State Model College Badore conservation club also initiated a project of monitoring the illegal dumping of refuse at the site and also to erect sign posts to discourage dumping of waste at the site.

Cross section of guests at the Hadejia-Nguru Wetlands

The Project manager - Mr. Mohammed G. Boyi education school children and other invited guests

Field trip by the Conservation club to the Ramsar site

Badore wetland community

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Clean up exercise with Conservation Club member

Community member participation during the Q & A session

Community paticipation in the clean up exercise

Cross section of the audience

For further information about World Wetlands Day or the Convention on Wetlands, please contact the Ramsar Convention Secretariat, Rue Mauverney 28, CH-1196 Gland, Switzerland (tel +41 22 999 0170, fax +41 22 999 0169, e-mail ). Posted 25 March 2008, Dwight Peck, Ramsar.