Sanwo-Olu and Osinbajo Advocate for Africa's Forests

At a high-level roundtable in Lagos, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu and former Vice President Yemi Osinbajo called for Africa to treat its forests as economic assets, capable of creating jobs and attracting investments. The event, organized by the Africa Forest Forum, focused on mobilizing private capital and philanthropy for sustainable forest management.

Sanwo-Olu, represented by Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources Wahab Tokunbo, noted that Africa's forests cover approximately 637 million hectares, yet millions of hectares are lost annually. He stressed the need for Africa to take ownership of financing and managing its natural resources.

Osinbajo, the Chairman of the Sustainable Forest Management Champions for Africa initiative, highlighted the essential resources forests provide, including water and food security. He warned that failing to invest in this area could leave Africa behind.

Prof. Larwanou Mahamane, Chairman of the Africa Forest Forum, emphasized the importance of safeguarding Africa's forest resources through advocacy and partnerships.