Nigeria is ramping up its campaign to stop the rapid loss of its natural heritage by actively seeking the support of the country's private sector. This urgent push was the central theme of a major workshop held in Lagos, designed to align corporate Nigeria with the nation's updated biodiversity goals.
Businesses Called to Account for Nature
The event, a National Business Advisory Group (BAG) workshop, was convened by the Nigerian Conservation Foundation (NCF), Natural Eco Capital, and Business for Nature. It brought together top business leaders, policymakers, and civil society groups. The primary aim was to establish clear national priorities and create operational frameworks to guide companies in fulfilling Nigeria's commitments under the global Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework.
In a lead presentation, Dr. Eugene Itua, CEO of Natural Eco Capital, issued a stark warning. He stated that Nigeria's wealth of biodiversity is under severe assault from deforestation, pollution, unsustainable farming, and climate change. "Nigeria is a biodiversity-rich nation facing severe threats, and these threats impact our ecosystems, livelihoods, food security and economic stability," Itua emphasised. He stressed that the corporate world must acknowledge its part in both causing and solving this crisis.
Dr. Itua explained that the Kunming-Montreal Framework, adopted by 196 nations in December 2022, sets a global goal to halt and reverse biodiversity loss by 2030. He highlighted Target 15 as particularly crucial for business, as it mandates companies to assess, disclose, and reduce their negative impacts on nature. "This is not optional; it is becoming the new norm in global governance," he declared, describing the framework as the biodiversity equivalent of the Paris Climate Agreement.
Nigeria's Ambitious Homegrown Plan
Nigeria's official response to this global mandate is the updated National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (NBSAP) for 2025–2030, which was revised in June 2025 to align with the international framework. While the plan focuses on conservation, sustainable use, and funding, Dr. Itua insisted its success is impossible without active private sector involvement. "This is our homegrown plan. It is ambitious, actionable and aligned with global goals, but it cannot succeed without you," he told business leaders.
He urged companies to see biodiversity action as a strategic issue of competitiveness, not just a box-ticking exercise. Inaction, he warned, could lead to regulatory problems, broken supply chains, and lost trust from investors and consumers. Conversely, early movers would gain access to green finance, innovation opportunities, a stronger brand, and long-term resource security.
Dr. Joseph Onoja, Executive Director of the NCF, echoed this sentiment, stating the workshop was timely following Nigeria's validation of its updated strategy. "Businesses are not just stakeholders in this process; they are critical partners, innovators and drivers of solutions," Onoja said. He explained the workshop aimed to build a shared understanding of Nigeria's commitments and start crafting a practical Business Action Plan, anchored in trust and open dialogue.
Biodiversity: The Bedrock of Economy and Culture
In a keynote address, Dr. John Onyekuru underscored the profound importance of biodiversity to Nigeria's very fabric. He noted that humans are an integral part of biodiversity and depend on it for essential services that support rural livelihoods, poverty reduction, and traditional occupations like farming, fishing, and medicine.
He pointed to Nigeria's wetlands, forests, and protected areas as undervalued ecosystems that provide food, regulate water, control climate, and offer economic potential. Dr. Onyekuru also highlighted the deep cultural ties, citing sacred forests and traditional knowledge systems as examples of long-standing conservation practices. This connection, he noted, has earned Nigeria international recognition, such as the listing of the Osun Osogbo Grove as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The newly reinforced Business Advisory Group is now positioned as a national platform for dialogue. Its mission is to integrate biodiversity targets into mainstream business operations and shape a credible, actionable Business Action Plan for Nature, leveraging the private sector's innovation, capital, and execution drive for the sake of Nigeria's natural future.
