Ogun State, the Gateway State is set to host the 44th Annual Conference of the Forestry Association of Nigeria from November 21 to November 26th, 2022.
Forestry Association of Nigeria (FAN) is the umbrella body for all stakeholders in forest and forest products and natural resources management including but not limited to those in the Universities, Ministries, the Practitioners and other stakeholders.
FAN was founded on the 6th of October 1970 and has remained dedicated to the Forestry profession and the promotion of cooperation and understanding between Foresters and all stakeholders in forestry and Sustainable Forest Management in Nigeria and other countries.
ValidViewNetwork reports that the conference will be the largest assemblage of Foresters in Ogun State in the last two decades.
The theme of the 44th Annual Conference is “Repositioning forestry for sustainable ecosystems and livelihoods” with various other sub-themes.
The theme of the conference is apt considering the global realities and unprecedented cases of threat to ecosystems and livelihoods in the recent times, ValidViewNetwork reports.
According to a statement by the Chairman of the Local Organizing Committee, Mr Seyi Banjoko, a retired Permanent Secretary and Fellow of the Forestry Association of Nigeria, the conference promises to be great and will leave an indelible memory with every participant.
In his words : “The 44th Annual Conference coming up in our State in the coming week will be made a showpiece which future hosts will find difficult to match in terms of value, education, entertainment and other human endeavours”
The opening ceremony of the great Conference holds at Oba’s Conference Hall, Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Ogun State Governor’s office on November 22,2022. The opening ceremony will witness the presentation of awards to selected organizations and individuals that have contributed immensely to sustainable forestry and environmental management in Nigeria.
The technical sessions of the 44th Annual Conference starting from 23rd holds at the prestigious Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta where scholars, researchers, policy makers , stakeholders and others will engage in intellectual discourse towards improving the forestry sector and by extension the environment.
The uniqueness of the 44th Conference is the introduction of an unprecedented blend of the various sectors giving maximum attention to the stakeholders and practitioners.
The 44th Annual Conference is intentional in solving contemporary problems. According to Banjoko, “we shall pull back no punches to ensure we maintain the standard of excellence for which Ogun State, the Gateway State to Nigeria is known”
In his remarks, the Chairman, Board of Trustees of the Forestry Association and member of the Ogun State Chapter, Chief James Bola Odebiyi commended the Local Organising Committee for the efforts so far while hoping that the 44th Annual Conference will witness unprecedented success in the annals of the Association.
According to Chief Odebiyi: ” I am delighted that Ogun State is hosting the FAN Conference after two decades. I have traversed the length and breadth of this country attending FAN Conferences and my joy knows no bounds to have the great Foresters in Ogun State. I look forward to seeing the men of timber and calibre”
ValidViewNetwork reports that Chief J.B. Odebiyi, a two time President of the Forestry Association and current Chairman of Board of Trustees is enthusiastic that Ogun State is hosting the Conference.
According to the Chairman of the Ogun State Chapter of FAN, Dr. Kayode Ogunjobi, the support, encouragement and contributions of Chief J.B. Odebiyi towards the hosting are unquantifiable.
If everyone would be committed to Forestry the way J.B. Odebiyi is, our forests will be happy, Ogunjobi asserted
The National Secretary of the Forestry Association, Prof. Kayode Ogunsanwo assured that the Association is working assiduously towards ensuring an unprecedented outing at Ogun 2022 and raising the bar of excellence of the Association. According to Ogunsanwo, a Professor at the University of Ibadan, ” the outcomes of the conference will help greatly in providing solutions to the myriads of challenges bedeviling the forestry sector and the environment.”
Ogunsanwo stated further: “In addition, the 44th Annual Conference will for the first time feature training workshop in waste management among other sustainable forest management practices.”
Both the Federal Government , State and Local council as well as private entities , stakeholders and individual forester should be ready to protect all our Forest reserves and National Parks as well as enbark on enrichment plantings across the Nation and House to house Awareness .
On point