As we celebrate Dr. Jibunoh’s contributions, we must also be reminded that across many parts of Nigeria, land degradation, drought, deforestation, biodiversity loss, unsustainable land use practices, and the impacts of climate change continue to threaten livelihoods, food security, water resources, and ecosystem stability. These challenges demand sustained action, innovation, and collective responsibility.
The Newton Jibunoh International Convention Centre has the potential to become a leading platform for environmental dialogue, policy engagement, research collaboration, capacity development, youth empowerment, and international cooperation and a bridge between knowledge and action, between policy and practice, and between local challenges and global solutions… I therefore encourage the management of this Centre and the good people of Delta State, to uphold the ideals and values embodied by the man whose name it bears.
PROTOCOLS
I FEEL honoured to be invited to the official commissioning of the Newton Jibunoh International Convention Centre (NICC), a monument dedicated to our present and future generations, here in Asaba, Delta State.
Today is a remarkable day for two important reasons.
First, we gather to commission a world-class facility that will serve as a centre for dialogue, learning, innovation, leadership, and international engagement.
Second, we commemorate the World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought, a global observance dedicated to raising awareness on the urgent need to protect and restore our land resources and build resilience against the growing threats of land degradation, desertification, and climate change.
The convergence of these two occasions is profoundly appropriate because the man whose name this Centre proudly bears, Dr. Newton Jibunoh, has devoted his life to championing the very cause that the world celebrates today.
For decades, Dr. Jibunoh has stood as one of Africa’s, and indeed the world’s foremost environmental advocates. Through his extraordinary desert expeditions, relentless advocacy, public enlightenment campaigns, and unwavering commitment to environmental sustainability, he drew global attention to the devastating impacts of desertification long before it became a mainstream development concern.
His courage, vision, and dedication earned him the well-deserved title of the “Desert Warrior.”
Indeed, Dr. Jibunoh’s legacy reminds us that environmental stewardship is not merely a technical undertaking. It is a mission that requires courage, sacrifice, perseverance, and an unwavering belief in the possibility of restoring degraded landscapes and improving human well-being.
Distinguished ladies and gentlemen,
As we celebrate Dr. Jibunoh’s contributions, we must also be reminded that across many parts of Nigeria, land degradation, drought, deforestation, biodiversity loss, unsustainable land use practices, and the impacts of climate change continue to threaten livelihoods, food security, water resources, and ecosystem stability. These challenges demand sustained action, innovation, and collective responsibility.
The Federal Government of Nigeria, under the leadership of His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, remains committed to addressing these environmental challenges through strategic interventions aimed at restoring degraded landscapes, enhancing climate resilience, promoting sustainable land management, and improving the livelihoods of vulnerable communities.
Through the Federal Ministry of Environment, we are advancing programmes and initiatives that support ecosystem restoration, afforestation and reforestation, drought mitigation, sustainable watershed management, climate adaptation, and community-based resilience building. It remains our collective vision to build productive, resilient, and sustainable landscapes that support food security, create green jobs, strengthen local economies, and improve the quality of life of our people.
At this juncture, I will reiterate that land restoration is not simply an environmental objective; it is a development imperative and an investment in national prosperity. Consequentially, all sectors must rise up to their collective responsibilities to combat natural and human accelerated disasters, to ensure sustainable development for generations to come.
The Newton Jibunoh International Convention Centre has the potential to become a leading platform for environmental dialogue, policy engagement, research collaboration, capacity development, youth empowerment, and international cooperation and a bridge between knowledge and action, between policy and practice, and between local challenges and global solutions.
I therefore encourage the management of this Centre and the good people of Delta State, to uphold the ideals and values embodied by the man whose name it bears.
To Dr. Newton Jibunoh, once again, l extend the profound appreciation of the Federal Government of Nigeria, for a lifetime of service to humanity and the environment. Through your work, you have demonstrated that one individual, driven by conviction and purpose, can influence national discourse, inspire global action, and leave an enduring legacy.
May this Centre flourish and continue to contribute to the advancement of knowledge, environmental sustainability, and national development for generations to come.
Thank you for your attention.
God bless Delta State.
God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria
