UNILORIN, NCF sign MoU to promote green campus, sustainable development
By Tajudeen Babamale
The University of Ilorin has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Nigerian Conservation Foundation (NCF) to establish a Conservation Park within the University campus that will serve as a practical hub for conservation activities, biodiversity protection, and environmental research.
The Vice Chancellor of the University, Prof. Wahab Olasupo Egbewole, SAN, and the Director-General of the NCF, Dr Joseph Onoja, signed on behalf of their respective institutions at a meeting held at the Vice Chancellor’s Committee Room last Monday (April 13, 2026).
Speaking at the signing ceremony, Prof. Egbewole thanked the NCF for its commendation of the University, stating that the positive feedback would further motivate the institution to deepen its commitment to environmental sustainability.
He noted that the University considers the partnership a critical step towards securing the future, because environmental stewardship remains central to global development. He assured the NCF that the University was deliberate in its actions and is fully committed to ensuring the success and sustainability of the collaboration.
While explaining that the University places high value on the partnership and is determined to nurture it into a long-lasting relationship, Prof. Egbewole added that students of the Institution have already been sensitised to take environmental issues seriously. He expressed confidence that the presence of NCF would further strengthen their engagement and instil deeper conservation values.
In his remarks, the Director General of NCF, Dr Joseph Onoja, commended the University of Ilorin for its longstanding commitment to environmental sustainability, noting that the University campus reminded him of the Yankari National Park. He commended the natural ambience of the University and its conservation-friendly environment.
Dr Onoja observed that the consistent adherence of the University to environmental standards, sustained by successive administrations, has positioned it as a model for conservation compliance. Recalling his previous visit in 2017, he said the noticeable improvements on campus demonstrate steady progress.
The NCF Director-General explained that the Foundation, established in 1980, envisions a Nigeria where development thrives in harmony with nature, adding that the essence of the partnership is to formalise and strengthen the conservation practices already being implemented by the University, while also creating a platform where NCF and its partners can demonstrate practical conservation initiatives.
Dr Onoja said that the University of Ilorin was carefully selected as the first location for such collaboration, following positive assessments by the technical team of the NCF, adding that the collaboration is designed to institutionalise conservation efforts on campus and provide a structured framework for promoting environmental responsibility among students, staff, and the wider University population.
