The Nigerian Conservation Foundation (NCF) has officially appointed former Vice-President Professor Yemi Osinbajo as the president of its Board of Trustees (BoT). The high-profile appointment was announced on Wednesday during the foundation’s annual general meeting held in Lagos.
Osinbajo succeeds Chief Philip Asiodu, who stepped down from the role after steering the affairs of the conservation foundation for more than 25 years.
Honouring a Quarter-Century of Environmental Leadership
Speaking at the general meeting, R.I.B. Adebiyi, the chairperson of the NCF’s national executive council (NEC), highly commended Asiodu for his monumental contributions to environmental conservation and institutional development. She emphasized that Asiodu’s tenure was defined by wisdom, foresight, and an unwavering commitment to environmental protection, leaving behind a structurally stronger organisation with a clearer vision for forest restoration.
Asiodu, a renowned diplomat who previously served as the chief economic adviser to former President Olusegun Obasanjo, has been a long-time advocate for achieving Nigeria’s 25 percent forest cover target and advancing the Great Green Wall initiative. According to official statements from the foundation, his visionary leadership significantly strengthened NCF’s core operations in habitat protection, community-based conservation, and environmental policy advocacy.
Driving Nigeria’s Climate Action and Green Transition
Turning to the future, Adebiyi stated that Osinbajo’s extensive experience in public service and climate policy uniquely positions him to pilot the organisation’s next growth phase.
“We are honoured to welcome Professor Yemi Osinbajo as president of our board of trustees,” Adebiyi said. “His track record as vice-president, his leadership of Nigeria’s Energy Transition Plan, and his advocacy for climate action and sustainable development make him uniquely qualified to guide NCF into the future. We believe his experience at the highest levels of government will help us scale our impact for people and nature.”
Osinbajo, who served as Nigeria’s vice-president from 2015 to 2023, famously spearheaded the development of the nation’s energy transition roadmap aimed at achieving net-zero emissions by 2060, while also chairing the National Council on Climate Change. The NCF highlighted that during his time in office, he consistently championed the integration of forests, biodiversity, and natural capital into national development policies.
The foundation noted that under Osinbajo’s incoming leadership, it intends to deepen strategic partnerships with the government, private sector, and local communities. This leadership transition aligns with the NCF’s immediate preparation to scale up nationwide programmes focused on protecting Nigeria’s wetlands, wildlife, forests, and rural livelihoods.
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