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The multiplicity of environmental challenges confronting Nigeria – fueling socio-economic crises such as worsening insecurity, poverty and homelessness – demands urgent and holistic action by all stakeholders, with religious leaders playing a critical role.
This call was made on Friday, January 30, 2026, by the Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, Most Rev. Dr. Matthew Hassan Kukah, while delivering the 24th Chief S. L. Edu Memorial Lecture in Lagos.
The annual lecture is a flagship initiative of the Nigerian Conservation Foundation (NCF), supported by partners including Chevron, to raise public awareness on contemporary environmental concerns and promote practical solutions.
Speaking on the theme, “To Have and to Hold: Faith and Care of the Environment,” Bishop Kukah said the earth was entrusted to humanity by God for safekeeping, not for destruction through pollution and reckless exploitation.
He lamented Nigeria’s weak environmental culture, which he said has encouraged abuse of nature and unrestrained exploitation of resources without regard for preservation.
Kukah also criticised poor enforcement of environmental laws and accused some foreign interests of prioritising resource extraction in Africa with little concern for the environmental, health and socio-economic consequences.
In a lecture that drew sustained applause from the audience, the Bishop linked persistent conflicts in Africa to the exploitation of natural resources and warned against a system where a privileged few benefit while the majority suffer.
According to him, “The theme of this lecture is to speak to men and women of faith to understand that the earth – creation – has been given to us by God in custody and in trust. Protection and preservation of the environment are part of the mandate of our humanity because God made us co-creators with Him.”
He stressed that human existence, livelihoods and comfort depend on the environment, noting that reckless mining, oil drilling and other extractive activities contradict divine intent.
“Whatever God has given us was not meant for a particular class – politicians, businessmen or political parties. It has been given for the welfare of every citizen. Our responsibility is to distribute these resources equitably and efficiently so that no one in a richly endowed country like Nigeria goes to bed hungry,” he said.
Kukah added that environmental problems do not occur in isolation, describing unchecked mining without restitution as ecological injustice and a sin against future generations. He urged people to see themselves not as spectators in the environmental crisis, but as custodians with a moral obligation to protect ecosystems and livelihoods, especially in the face of flooding, desertification, climate change and species extinction.
The Catholic Archbishop of Lagos, His Grace Adewale Martins, who was the Special Guest of Honour, also underscored the urgency of decisive environmental action. He commended the NCF and the family of late Chief S. L. Edu for sustaining the lecture series.
“This is a time for us to be sorry for our cruelty against the earth and to change our ways. Care for the earth is not optional; it is mandatory,” Archbishop Martins said, noting that the Catholic Church has long prioritised environmental sustainability through dedicated groups and initiatives.
In a welcome address, the Chairman of the NCF National Executive Council (NEC), Justice Bukola Adebiyi, expressed delight at the large turnout and thanked the Guest Lecturer, Archbishop Martins, and other dignitaries for their presence.
Speaking on behalf of the NCF President, Chief Philip Asiodu, she said the theme was timely, given the scale of environmental challenges and the need for action – especially from faith communities.
Justice Adebiyi described the memorial lecture as a vital awareness tool and reminded the public that conservation is a shared responsibility, not the government’s alone.
She paid tribute to Late Chief S. L. Edu, founder of the NCF, and appreciated Chevron for sponsoring the lecture since inception and for supporting several other NCF programmes and projects.
The event, attended by NCF NEC members, students from secondary and tertiary institutions in Lagos, members of the Catholic Women Organisation, Muslim groups and other stakeholders, also featured the award of research grants to two PhD students – Arikpo Okoi Eteng and Ezekiel Temitayo Adedeji – as well as the presentation of a plaque to Bishop Kukah.
By Innocent Onoh
