In a world racing to combat climate change and biodiversity loss, Nigeria’s Lekki Conservation Centre (LCC) stands tall as a beacon of what’s possible when nature is protected, communities are empowered, and development is reimagined.
Rather than relying solely on foreign aid or loans, the Nigerian Conservation Foundation (NCF), which manages the LCC, has shown that sustainable biodiversity conservation can be a powerful catalyst for job creation, tourism, education, health, and climate resilience.
Located in the heart of Lagos, Africa’s most bustling megacity, where air pollution, traffic, and noise are part of daily life, the LCC offers a rare escape: 78 hectares of wetland and forest that serve as a natural sanctuary teeming with life.
Monkeys leap from branch to branch, birds sing in chorus, and century-old tortoises roam freely.
This oasis, once under threat from urban expansion, now thrives thanks to the visionary environmentalist Chief S. L. Edu, who founded the NCF in 1980 and chose conservation over concrete.
Once threatened by pollution and encroachment, the LCC has evolved into a biodiversity hotspot, home to over one million species, including several endangered ones. It acts as a buffer against flooding, purifies the air, and creates green jobs through the employment of rangers, scientists, guides, and administrative staff.
Beyond conservation, the LCC serves as a vibrant eco-education hub. It attracts over one million visitors annually—including tourists, students, and researchers—who come to learn, reflect, and reconnect with nature. Visitors are often awed by attractions such as the famous 100-year-old tortoise and Africa’s longest canopy walkway—the second-longest in the world—offering breathtaking aerial views of the forest. The tortoise’s older companion, once the centre’s star, died in 2013 at the age of 105.
According to Dr. Joseph Onoja, Director General of the NCF, the centre’s success stems from strong local and international partnerships. Speaking during the foundation’s 36th Annual General Meeting, he acknowledged the unwavering support of board members, staff, volunteers, and donors.
“On behalf of the Nigerian Conservation Foundation, I extend heartfelt gratitude to our Board of Trustees, National Executive Council, management team, volunteers, members, and partners. Your passion and collaboration fuel our mission,” Onoja said.
“As we reflect on our progress, let us renew our collective resolve—to nature, to our communities, and to Nigeria’s future.”
From board members like Chief Philip Asiodu, former Petroleum Minister, and Onari Duke, former First Lady of Cross River State, to enduring partnerships with the Lagos State Government, international donors, and local communities, the LCC is a living example of shared environmental responsibility.
What was once seen as a neglected forest is now a source of livelihoods. Community members work as conservation officers, artisans, tour guides, and eco-entrepreneurs.
In 2024 alone, NCF’s programs created over 7,500 green jobs and empowered more than 11,000 beneficiaries.
Public engagement is key. A student, Yisa Sultan, who attended the 2024 World Migratory Bird Day celebration at Hadejia-Nguru Wetlands, said:
“I never knew insects played such an important role in bird survival. This event opened my eyes to conservation.”
At another program in Ibeju-Lekki with over 3,000 participants, students expressed their newfound awareness:
“I’ve learned why sea turtles are important—and I want to help protect them.”
“This program helped us understand how our habits affect marine life. We need to change.”
The LCC’s impact has rippled across Nigeria. Under its Green Recovery Nigeria Programme, NCF planted more than 2.6 million trees between 2019 and 2024, aiming to restore 25% of Nigeria’s lost forests by 2047.
By the end of 2024, NCF had expanded its programs to 21 states, including Yobe, Edo, Cross River, Delta, Kano, Abuja, and others. Projects include boreholes in Maja-Kura (Yobe) to improve water access, over 300 school-based conservation clubs, and protection of endangered species such as the Cross River gorilla, Nigerian-Cameroon chimpanzee, white-throated monkey, and vultures.
Scientific studies show that while areas like Ikorodu and Lagos Island suffer high pollution, LCC remains one of Lagos’ few “good” air quality zones (AQI 0–49), thanks to its dense vegetation and isolation from traffic. Its trees and wetland plants reduce carbon dioxide, filter air, and lower heat stress—offering health benefits to nearby residents.
Visitors also enjoy recreational activities: from chess and nature walks in the savannah area to admiring ornamental fish (some worth over ₦1 million) in artificial ponds—not for food, but for enriching the eco-tourism experience.
A local tour guide shared:
“We have diverse wildlife—peacocks, Mona monkeys, civets, pangolins, and antelopes—living in their natural habitats. At the family park, you’ll find a treehouse, playground, volleyball court, table tennis, and more.”
Despite its success, challenges remain—illegal logging, funding gaps, and habitat degradation. To overcome them, NCF is strengthening partnerships, advocating policy reforms, engaging communities, and integrating technology into conservation.
At a recent stakeholders’ meeting, NCF unveiled its 2025–2030 Strategic Action Plan, which aims to replicate the LCC model in all 36 states and the FCT. This includes revitalizing sites like Becheve Nature Reserve (Cross River), Omo Forest Reserve (Ogun), Finima Nature Park (Rivers), and Abuja Conservation Centre.
The NCF, with over 40 active partners and membership in 10 global conservation bodies, also collaborates with academic institutions like Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Tai Solarin University of Education, Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University, and the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta.
According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), wildlife-based economies—including tourism—are vital to GDP in many African countries. With over 42,100 species threatened globally, conservation has never been more urgent.
The Lekki Conservation Centre is not just a local success story—it is a national blueprint. It demonstrates that Nigeria can protect nature, combat climate change, empower communities, and grow its economy—without compromising future generations.
As Pius, a visitor from the oil-polluted Niger Delta, put it:
“This is what we need across Nigeria—a sanctuary for nature and a fresh start for our people.”
With continued commitment, innovation, and inclusion, the wild won’t just breathe in Lekki—it will thrive across the nation.
Reporting by Innocent Onoh