LAGOS/Nigeria: The Lagos State Government, the Nigerian Conservation Foundation (NCF) and Chevron Nigeria Limited are calling on residents to make environmental protection part of their daily lives as they prepare for the 20th edition of Walk for Nature on Saturday, October 17.
The event, themed “Inspired for Climate Action,” will take place at Lagos State University (LASU), Ojo, with participants expected to gather at Makanjuola Hall by 7 a.m. Organisers anticipate more than 2,000 participants and say registration is free.
The anniversary edition is intended to turn public concern about climate change into practical steps that individuals, communities and organisations can take to protect the environment.
Walk for Nature has served as an environmental advocacy platform bringing together government institutions, businesses, students, community groups and conservation advocates. Previous editions have addressed biodiversity loss, wildlife protection, plastic pollution, land restoration, desertification and drought resilience.
Lagos State Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, said the effects of climate change were increasingly evident in the state through higher temperatures, intense rainfall, flooding, rising sea levels and the degradation of natural ecosystems.
While acknowledging the government’s responsibility to strengthen environmental management and prepare communities for climate-related risks, Wahab stressed that individual behaviour also mattered.
“The 20th Walk for Nature is an important platform to inspire that behavioural change and remind every Lagosian of their role in building a cleaner, safer and more climate-resilient city,” he said.
NCF Director-General, Dr Joseph Onoja, similarly warned that climate-related pressures were affecting communities through flooding, extreme heat, displacement and food insecurity, with consequences for livelihoods.
He highlighted the role of forests, wetlands and mangroves in protecting communities and supporting environmental stability, arguing that conservation must be treated as part of the response to climate change.
“The 20th Walk for Nature is therefore a call to move from awareness to action,” Onoja said.
He added that safeguarding natural ecosystems was important not only for the environment but also for communities, economic activity and future generations.
As part of the campaign, residents are being encouraged to reduce waste and plastic consumption, stop dumping refuse into canals and wetlands, plant and protect trees, conserve wetland areas and adopt more climate-conscious lifestyles.
The organisers also want greater public support for nature-based solutions that use and protect natural ecosystems to address environmental challenges.
Youth participation will feature prominently in this year’s programme, with special engagements planned to encourage young Nigerians to contribute to conservation and climate action. A waste-bin donation exercise is also scheduled to promote responsible waste disposal.
The organisers said the anniversary provides an opportunity to reinforce the connection between everyday decisions and the broader effort to build a more climate-resilient society.
Interested participants can register through bit.ly/20thWFN2026.
