Former Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has pledged to strengthen environmental conservation and climate action following his emergence as President of the Board of Trustees of the Nigerian Conservation Foundation (NCF).

Osinbajo made the commitment on Wednesday while delivering his acceptance speech at the Foundation’s 37th Annual General Meeting held in Lagos.

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In his remarks, the former vice president paid tribute to the founding fathers of the Nigerian Conservation Foundation, particularly the Foundation’s President Emeritus, Chief Philip Asiodu, for their foresight in championing environmental conservation long before climate change became a global concern.

He also acknowledged the contributions of the late Chief S.L. Edu and other founding trustees, noting that their vision laid the foundation for Nigeria’s environmental conservation movement.

According to Osinbajo, the pioneers of the Foundation recognised the importance of biodiversity conservation decades before climate change emerged as one of the world’s most pressing environmental challenges.

He said their commitment had provided Nigeria with a solid platform for advancing climate action and environmental sustainability.

Osinbajo observed that the effects of climate change have become increasingly evident across Nigeria through flooding, rising temperatures and other environmental challenges.

He also pointed to the extreme heat being experienced in parts of Europe, where temperatures have reportedly reached between 38 and 41 degrees Celsius, as further evidence of the growing global climate crisis.

Despite the challenges, he expressed confidence that technological innovation and scientific advancements would provide effective solutions for tackling environmental problems and preserving biodiversity.

Describing the NCF as Nigeria’s foremost non-governmental organisation dedicated to environmental conservation, Osinbajo commended its trustees, management, staff, volunteers and development partners for sustaining the Foundation’s programmes over the years.

Accepting his new responsibility, he pledged to build on the achievements of previous leaders while strengthening collaboration with stakeholders to advance the Foundation’s mission.

Osinbajo also reaffirmed his commitment to promoting biodiversity conservation and environmental sustainability, expressing optimism that collective efforts would help secure a healthier environment for future generations.