Nature enthusiasts and environmental advocates gathered at the University of Lagos (UNILAG) wetlands to mark the 2026 World Wetlands Day, celebrating Nigeria’s rich biodiversity and renewing calls for stronger wetland conservation.
The event, organised by the Lekki Bird Club in partnership with the Nigerian Conservation Foundation (NCF) and the Society for Ecological Restoration (UNILAG Chapter), also served as the club’s first bird-watching exercise of the year.
A total of 26 participants, including pupils, took part in the bird walk, which began at the wetlands behind St. Thomas More Catholic Church and ended at the Lagos Lagoon.
The exercise led to the identification and documentation of 37 bird species, spanning both wetland-dependent birds and species associated with surrounding terrestrial habitats.
Species recorded during the walk included the White-faced Whistling Duck, Speckled Pigeon, Red-eyed Dove, Laughing Dove, Blue-spotted Wood Dove, Western Plantain-eater, Senegal Coucal, Common Moorhen, Palm-nut Vulture, Shikra, Yellow-billed Kite, Green Woodhoopoe, African Grey Hornbill, Woodland Kingfisher, Broad-billed Roller, Ring-necked Parakeet, Red-headed Lovebird, Grey Parrot, Senegal Parrot, Brown-throated Wattle-eye, African Thrush and Olive-bellied Sunbird, among others.
A notable moment during the exercise was the interaction with a UNILAG student who had rescued and was nurturing a juvenile Western Grey Plantain-eater that had fallen from its nest, highlighting the impact individuals can have in wildlife conservation.
In a joint statement, the organisers described the UNILAG wetlands as a critical ecosystem with significant value for research, tourism and environmental education, while also acting as a natural flood-control system for the university community and the wider Yaba area.
They urged local, state and national authorities to intensify efforts to protect Nigeria’s remaining wetlands, noting their importance to livelihoods and sustainable development.
“Globally, over one billion people depend on wetlands for fishing, farming and tourism,” the statement said.
“Wetlands provide food, timber and medicinal plants, while bird-watching, photography, fishing and eco-tourism generate substantial economic benefits.”
The groups also appealed to the management of the University of Lagos, the Ministry of Education and the Federal Government to prioritise the protection of the UNILAG wetlands as infrastructure development continues on campus.
“The UNILAG wetland functions as a natural flood-control system and a vital biodiversity refuge within Lagos. We are part of nature, not separate from it.
Sustainable development must coexist with the natural environment to ensure resilience for future generations,” the statement added.
They further noted that the UNILAG wetlands are among the few remaining protected wetland ecosystems in Lagos, particularly in Akoka, Yaba, an area historically dominated by wetlands along the Lagos Lagoon.
Extensive reclamation and urban development have made the remaining natural habitats within the university especially valuable.
According to the conservation groups, wetlands play a vital role in water purification, flood and storm protection, biodiversity conservation, climate-change mitigation and economic development.
They explained that wetlands filter pollutants, store large volumes of floodwater, support about 40 per cent of global species and serve as major carbon sinks.
The groups concluded that wetland protection is a shared responsibility, essential for environmental sustainability, human well-being and Nigeria’s long-term development.
Written by Innocent Onoh