World Wildlife Day event inspires young conservationists

Over 50 students gathered at Eko Hotels and Suites last Wednesday to celebrate World Wildlife Day with poetry, speeches, and basketball in an innovative approach to wildlife conservation education.

The 5 March event, themed “Conservation Finance: Investing in People and Planet,” brought together participants from six schools with members of Green Fingers Wildlife to highlight the importance of protecting endangered species through creative expression and teamwork.

In his opening address, Mr Chinedu Mogbo, the Founder of Green Fingers Wildlife, emphasised the urgent need for environmental advocates. “This is what makes Africa and the world a beautiful place,” he said, calling on attendees to “conserve and renew” rather than destroy natural habitats.

The event featured a poetry session where students from four schools expressed their appreciation for the world’s biodiversity and ecosystems. This was followed by a speech symposium in which representatives from five schools presented on threatened species including the Cross River gorilla, forest elephant, hooded vulture, green sea turtle, and white-bellied pangolin.

Each speaker shared fascinating facts about their chosen species and explained its importance to the ecosystem, demonstrating their deep engagement with conservation issues.

The day concluded with a friendly basketball match between two of the participating schools, symbolising the teamwork and collaboration necessary for effective conservation efforts.

In his closing remarks, Mr Mogbo thanked Eko Hotels and Suites for their continued support towards wildlife conservation, stating that he “hopes the event will inspire young participants to become active champions for wildlife preservation and environmental stewardship, turning their newfound passion into concrete actions for a sustainable future.”