ADDRESS BY THE HOD AT THE 2021 BIODIVERSITY DAY HELD AT THE

FISRT BANK BUILDING, FACULTIES OF AGRICULTURE AND RENEWABLE

NATURAL RESOURCES, UNIVERSITY OF IBADAN, IBADAN.

The Acting Vice Chancellor,

The Dean of the Faculty of Renewable Natural Resources,
Other Heads of Department here present,
The Chair, Pangolin Conservation Guild, Nigeria
Gentlemen of the Press,
Colleagues, ladies and gentlemen.

It is with utmost pleasure that I am welcoming you to the maiden edition of our Departmental
commemoration of the World Biodiversity Day.

The International Day for Biological Diversity is a day set aside by the United Nations for the
promotion of biodiversity issues. It is currently slated for May 22 of every year. The International Day
for biological diversity falls within the scope of the United Nations Post-2015 Development Agenda’s
Sustainable Development Goals. The United Nations has proclaimed May 22, the International Day
for Biological Diversity (IDB) to increase understanding and awareness of biodiversity issues.

Biodiversity is the living fabric of our planet. It underpins human wellbeing in the present and in the
future, and its rapid decline threatens nature and people alike. Biodiversity is the biological variety
and variability of life on earth. Biodiversity is a measure of variation at the genetic, species, and
ecosystem levels. It is the variability among living organisms from all sources, including terrestrial,
marine, and other aquatic ecosystems and the ecological complexes of which they are part. This
includes diversity within species, between species, and of ecosystems. Biodiversity forms the
foundation of the vast array of ecosystem services that critically contribute to human well-being.
Biodiversity is important in human-managed as well as natural ecosystems. Decisions that humans
make that influence biodiversity affect the well-being of themselves and others.

Biodiversity is important because of the following.

1. Sources of food, fodder and fuel

2. Sources of medicine
3. Pollution management
4. Control of soil erosion
5. Soil quality improvement
6. Forming a healthy ecosystem
7. Protection of resources
8. Nutrients recycling
9. Source of recreation
10. Water recycling
11. Economic growth
12. Knowledge about species and their value in nature
13. Ethical value
14. Cultural value
15. For protection of our planet
16. For existence of the species
17. For environmental cleanup
18. Reduction of risk of climatic changes
When the idea of this celebration was conceived, I had personal communication with some members
of staff. We unanimously agreed to adopt one of the prominent environmental days as celebrated by
the United Nations as listed below:

World Wetland Day 2 February

World Forest Day 21 March

World Water Day 22 March

World Nature Day 03 October

World Wildlife week 01- 07 October

World Sparrow’s Day 20 March

World Biodiversity Day 22 May

World Turtle Day 23 May

World Nature Conservation Day 28 July

World Tiger Day 29 July

World Elephant Day 12 August

World Birds Day 12 November

World Habitat Day 1st Monday October

World Energy Conservation Day 14 November

Eventually, we settled for The World Biodiversity Day which seems to be all encompassing even
though the other days are equally important. Henceforth, we hope to have low key celebrations to
mark the days set aside for other environmental issues while the World Biodiversity Day will be
marked annually by our Department in an elaborate manner.

This programme started yesterday with the training of some teachers of Ecology at primary and
secondary schools in Ibadan and the subsequent inauguration of the Biodiversity Conservation Clubs
in those schools represented. Today, there will be a quiz competition among all participating schools
with the top 3 schools in the quiz competition engaging in a debate.

We thank the Almighty God who in His infinite mercy and benevolence has crowned our little efforts
with this HUGE SUCCESS that we are witnessing today. To God alone be all the GLORY,
HONOUR AND ADORATION

I will at this juncture like to acknowledge all our sponsors.

The Coca Cola Company

Nigerian Conservation Foundation

Nestle Nigeria Plc.

Sweetco Foods Limited and few individuals who are Nature enthusiast
Thank you so much, may God continue to bless your companies, lengthen your stake and broaden
your horizon. “ile ise yin ko ni j’ona oooooo, amin.

To the Outreach committee of the Department under the leadership of Professor S. O. Ojo and his able
and dependable Caleb and Joshua; Dr OlaJesu and Mrs Grace Idowu-Mogaji and the other members
of the committee, Mrs Joy Jaja, and Mrs Bose Okunneye, I say thank you. I really appreciate all the
efforts of Dr Taye Adeyanju towards the planning of the programme and our resource persons(Prof G.
A. Lameed; Dr Funmi Ajani and Dr A. A. Alarape) who have contributed immensely to what we are
witnessing today. May God bless you and the works of your hands, Amen.

I want to appreciate all our invited guests, primary and secondary school teachers and students here
present. Kindly seat back, enjoy the programme and take the salient points back to your schools.
Thank you for honouring our invitation.

Thank you all.