WISON Honours Lawal, Ihenacho, Morakinyo and Dantata at 8th Annual Conference

Environmental leadership, conservation investment, protected-area management and community enterprise recognised at 8th WISON Conference

The Wildlife Society of Nigeria (WISON) has honoured four Nigerians whose work spans environmental governance, conservation finance, protected-area management and community-based tourism at its 8th Annual Conference in Abuja.

Held under the theme “Human-Wildlife Interactions and Sustainable Protected Area Management,” the conference was hosted by the Nigeria National Park Service (NPS), in collaboration with WISON, with support from 7Up Bottling Company of Nigeria. It brought together wildlife professionals, government representatives, scientists, civil society organisations and other stakeholders to examine some of the country’s most pressing conservation challenges.

NPS Conservator-General, Dr Ibrahim Goni, stressed that protected areas cannot be managed in isolation from the communities that depend on surrounding natural resources. He called for stronger partnerships, better approaches to human-wildlife conflict, alternative livelihoods and greater use of technology in conservation including drones, GIS and camera traps deployment. WISON President, Prof. Omotola Jayeola, similarly called for stronger collaboration among professionals, government, civil society and local communities- highlighting WISON’s growing role as a professional voice for wildlife practitioners and pointed to the Society’s intervention following the movement of elephants into the Saki area of Oyo State, where it assessed impacts on communities and engaged government agencies on the protection and rescue of the animals.

Against this backdrop, Malam Balarabe Abbas Lawal, Minister of Environment, was among those recognised at the conference. His recognition comes amid the Federal Government’s ongoing environmental agenda, including the third Sovereign Green Bond, valued at ₦50 billion, to support climate-resilient and sustainable projects, alongside programmes addressing restoration, biodiversity and environmental resilience.

At the conference, Lawal also called for stronger legislation and tougher sanctions against wildlife crimes, while urging closer collaboration among government, academics, communities, media and conservation organisations. His award was received on his behalf by Mr Olaitan Fajuyitan, Senior Special Assistant to the Minister and Coordinator of Nigeria’s Green Bond Programme.

Also recognised was Mr Phillip Ihenacho, founding Director of Africa Nature Investors (ANI) Foundation, who received the Distinguished Environmental Vanguard Award.

Ihenacho was honoured for his approach to conservation that connects environmental protection with sustainable finance and private-sector investment. Through ANI, he has helped advance long-term partnerships with the Nigeria National Park Service in Gashaka-Gumti National Park and the Okomu landscape, supporting a model that combines protected-area management, community engagement and sustainable financing.

The award was received on his behalf by Mr. Horsfall Tony, Stakeholder Engagement Manager for the Gashaka Gumti Forest Carbon Project.

Mr Tunde Morakinyo, Executive Director of ANI Foundation, received the Special Merit Award for his longstanding contribution to conservation and community-centred natural-resource management.

With nearly three decades of experience spanning tropical forest conservation, community forestry and protected-area management, Morakinyo has been instrumental in shaping ANI’s conservation approach. His work has consistently emphasised that the long-term survival of protected areas depends not only on protecting landscapes and wildlife, but also on creating meaningful relationships and economic opportunities for surrounding communities.

Morakinyo’s Award was also received on his behalf by Horsfall Tony, who represented both ANI awardees at the ceremony. Speaking after receiving the two awards, Horsfall thanked WISON for recognising the contributions of the ANI leaders and acknowledged the Nigeria National Park Service for hosting the conference and for its longstanding partnership with ANI. He noted that the progress being made in Gashaka-Gumti and Okomu reflects the value of sustained collaboration between government, conservation organisations and local communities. He further described the awards as recognition not only of the individuals honoured, but also of the rangers, communities, partners and institutions contributing to conservation on the ground.

The conference further recognised Dr Munzali Dantata, a lawyer, tourism professional and pioneer of community-based tourism, whose career has linked tourism development with local enterprise and poverty reduction. Dantata, who was present at the event, personally received his Environmental Vanguard Award.

Together, the four recognitions reflect several dimensions of Nigeria’s evolving environmental agenda—from public policy and climate finance to protected-area conservation, community engagement and sustainable tourism.

The awards also resonated with the central message of the WISON conference: that conservation cannot be sustained by protection alone. It requires effective institutions, investment, scientific knowledge, strong partnerships and communities that are recognised as participants and beneficiaries in the stewardship of nature.

The 8th WISON Annual Conference therefore served not only as a professional gathering for Nigeria’s wildlife community, but also as a platform for recognising individuals whose work contributes to the broader effort to protect the country’s natural heritage.