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By Josfyn Uba
Founder of Lekki Urban Forest and Animal Sanctuary Initiative (LUFASI) and Nigerian environmental activist, Desmond Majekodunmi, has said that climate change is the most pressing issue that humanity has ever faced after the Second World War.
He, therefore, said that if humans do not change their mindset towards profiteering, billions of children would be sacrificed.
Majekodunmi, 73, who sits atop the Awareness and Fund Raising Committee of the Nigerian Conservation Foundation (NCF), as Chairman, is also vast on lectures on ecosystem, conservation, adaptation and mitigation of climate change.
He anchors environmental awareness programmes on Nigerian Radio channels and has been recognized both locally and internationally for his green efforts. The German Green party has recently engaged him to make a movie about climate change in Nigeria.
In this interview with Sunday Sun, he also spoke on the unclaimed 40,000 seedlings of trees, a year after he was contracted by the Muhammadu Buhari government to get them. Excerpts:
Last year, the Muhammadu Buhari administration announced to the world in a launching ceremony that they were planting 250,000 trees towards mitigating climate change. A year after, there is no sign of that initiative, what do you say?
It is not entirely that there is nothing because we at LUFASI Park were mandated to provide some seedlings for that particular initiative, but the seedlings are still here, and overgrown because they were not asked for again, though we spent money to produce them. However, we do know that some amount of that was planted, but it wasn’t the whole amount. If it was, our seedlings wouldn’t still be here, getting over-grown. So, it was just the cheap talk without necessary action. Whoever was making those promises and talking is not cognisant of the severity of the consequences. Action begets real action. What you sow is what you reap.
So, what do you suggest?
I can just suggest a strong repentance from whoever initiated this and didn’t actualize it. It’s still not late to reverse the trend. If you are really repentant even if it means using your own money to do this, because the consequences are huge. Is it the law of retribution or law of karma? It’s not too late, but it’s getting late.
In 2021, the last administration signed the climate change act. How would you assess the implementation of that law and what other aspects do you want the government to pay attention to?
It’s an important law, but because there are couple of groups involved like the Nigerian Conservation Foundation, who are on the climate change committee and these people do know the implications of not getting it very urgently under control. There is lot more hope that it might be seriously implemented when you have people like NCF there. I am hopeful that it will be done, but I am not sure that the urgency has penetrated into the consciousness of the people involved. It’s not an issue of proclaiming climate change and being part of the process. It is the most pressing issue that humanity has ever faced. We have faced some serious issues. Second World War was pretty bad. It is most pressing issue because our life support system is heading towards irreversible collapse which will accelerate as it triggers off different types to a tripping point. We have reached a crisis point and I am not sure that the people who want to enact this act appreciate the urgency. That’s why we are trying to create awareness. I am hopeful because I know that the vast majority of people really love their children, especially mothers.
What do you think that Nigerian government can take away from COP28 ?
If Nigeria can galvanize enough respect for herself with other African nations, many of which are so negatively impacted by the climate change and approach the rest of the world for mitigation money, adaptation funds to adapt to the damage that they can mitigate and find alternative system.
A recent report by UN says Nigeria is the second most vulnerable country, globally, in terms of children’s exposure to climate change. What does that tell you?
We are on a totally wrong path. It shows the fundamental lack of understanding of the basic of the laws by the leadership. As a leader and you are making decisions that will impact negatively on millions of people, think about the crying and gnashing of teeth.
Is it now late for us to do anything?
No, it’s not too late to change.
Do we still have time?
Yes, we still have time to make a change, but scientists who have more effective template to determine what is happening have told us categorically that if we don’t stop this process, it might become catastrophic. If we think that our technology can do it, remember the case of hurricane Katrina that hit New Orleans. You can’t fight nature with technology. Just harmonize with it and do the right thing.
Why is it so difficult for us to take care of nature?
We have lost it. In days gone by, Africans had harmonious relationship with nature. I noticed when I started my farm here. Even, the old traditional farmers had a way of dealing with the environment which wasn’t so abusive, partly because the technology that was being used wasn’t so powerful. We didn’t even have the capacity to cause that much damage because if you compare how many trees you can cut with cutlass and how many you can cut with machine and iron saw and what you can do with the giant tractor. But I think it’s a fundamental question mark on human beings identifying much with material needs and desires of the flesh. In that whole process, our socio-economic systems have now developed into priotizing profit. As a result, we are causing terrible damage to the environment. We have to put people first, planet next and then, profit. Nature now says, you have gone so far. You must change. If you don’t change, I will change you.
With this climate change crisis, how do you think that what you are doing as a conservationist adds up to saving the earth?
I am hoping that, at least, what I can do is to influence a few people, who would in turn influence others. I am trying to relate to the essence of life, which is love. If we can’t love the earth, the only one that supports life, care and replenish it and can’t even love the support system of our children, then we must have a turn around or we will face the reaction.
Government and stakeholders often pay lip service to promises in their fight against climate change. Why is it so?
They are addicted to the desires of the flesh, boosting their egos and pride. The system has indoctrinated people into never being satisfied with what they can acquire. It’s about getting caught up in the endless cycle of greed, insincerity of purpose. They are used to much talk and no action. It’s unfortunate.
What do you think mankind must do practically to sustain the earth?
We have been telling people, even the UN Secretary General informed the world that we are on a suicidal march fighting against nature because nature always fights back. He says that we have our foot on the accelerator and we haven’t even taken our foot off the accelerator. 2023 is the hottest year ever recorded. And in the last 10 years, we have had three of the hottest years, upsetting the system. We know what to do. We have to stop the poison, stop the massive pollution, stop the destruction of the various systems in nature that deals with the normal emissions of carbon dioxide. We have to do things that are far more harmonious with nature. In 2015, the whole world got together in Paris, and everybody said we must reduce our emissions. In 2022, the emissions had never been so high. What we are calling for is urgent renewal of our minds because we do not have the right mental attitude. If we continue doing what we are doing now, we will be sacrificing billions of our children.
Why do some groups deny that climate change is real?
You will always have people who are grossly misguided, but if they deny climate change and science tells us that global warming is changing the climate, then they might also want to deny the law of gravity. Global warming that is inducing the climate change is as real as the law of gravity pulling on the body that is suspended mid air. It’s action begetting action. I hope they wake up and face the reality.
How did you get the idea of working to sustain nature?
It started when I was a young star of about five to six years old. There used to be a cashew tree in our compound. It was such a joy eating the wonderful nuts. And I fell in love with it. So, I had a link to nature because of this. And I never lost it, but it wasn’t until I got to Kenya that it really solidified. Prior to that, I had met some people in the Nigerian Conservation Foundation like Chief Philip Asiodu, the late Akintola Williams and other people including lady Ambassador Alakija who I started this conservation with the Duke of Edinburgh, Prince Philip. I went to Kenya and spent three years there working with CBS. I was so enthralled by what the Kenyans were doing with their environment. From the airport to Nairobi town, you would see wild animals at the national park and their agriculture was tremendous. After a while, one appreciated that. They were looking after nature and nature was looking after them. Upon my coming back from Kenya, I decided to start a farm.
Since children are more at risk, what’s your message to mothers?
Mothers join hands with the ultimate mother earth, and become part of the vanguard, to ensure that we protect her resources. Look at the men right in the eye and tell them that they can no longer continue to make decisions that destroy children’s life support. Plead with them possibly, but demand that there must be a change and they should stop destroying the earth. Talk to them to see that the children’s future shall be saved and the climate change act shall be utilized effectively to ensure that we do the right thing.
How would you feel if another government decides that they are no longer interested in conservation and wants to pull LUFASI down?
Well, they would have to pull me down, as well.
