The Ondo State Goodwill Ambassador For Environment, Ms Olayemi Olapeju, has called on Nigerians to desist from killing wildlife for food.
Olapeju said this at an art exhibition organised to sensitise the public against killing wildlife for food in Lagos.
The drive is against the extinction of the African bush elephant and other wildlife in the country.
It is inspired by America’s preservation of the American eagle from extinction.
The Wildlife Extinction Art Exhibition
The art exhibition involved the transformation of TV screen into canvas to unveil America eagle coins ‘thorncarving’.
The NO TO EXTINCTION ‘thorncarving’ exhibition took centre stage, as the artist and her team transformed refuse TV screens into canvas to unveil America Eagle coins thorncarving.
The specific aim of the exhibition was to address the extinction of African bush elephants and promote waste-to-wealth artwork.
The art exhibition, was chaired by former Ondo state Commissioner For Environment, Dr Funso Esan.
The exhibition was to sensitise the public on the importance of wildlife conservation and waste to wealth creativities.
In his keynote address, Esan advocated for Africa to adopt a strong policy for habitat protection and conservation action.
According to him, wildlife are decimated by habitat destruction and illegal shooting, causing decrease in population.
“Extinction is forever and the wildlife current endangered state means there is still hope to pull the wildlife back from the brink of extinction.” He said
Esan called for concerted efforts of both government and the public for the country’s wildlife to be protected.
Accorfing to him, “The ‘thorncarving’ coins artwork we are showcasing today, that features the stately image of the celebrity United States of America bald eagle, which is glued on the screen of discarded skyworth television screen is to exemplify both waste to wealth initiative.”
He said it also portrays how wildlife that are at the risk of disappearing completely can soar back like the soaring back of bald eagle bird in America.
“In 2008, U.S. government minted coins featuring bald eagle image to commemorate the return of bald eagle to America, so in due course, Africa Bush Elephants’ return from endangered will become a success story too,” he said.
Background To The Artwork
On her part, Olapeju, explained that the artwork was created by NO TO EXTINCTION or L’EXTINCTION artist from Ondo state. While the thorn carving coins were carved by 3 of them.
They are; herself, Mrs Bolajoko Ayeni and Mr Charles Olulaja Akeredolu, son of thorn carving inventor, late Chief J. D. Akeredolu.
“We decided to transform junked television screen into valuable art canvas as part of waste-to-wealth artistic creativity to reduce environmental impact of non-biodegradable electronics on our landfills.” She explained
Accordong to her, the eagle coins are also to represent wildlife that have made strong return from the brink of extinction.
Credit: NAN
