UI Don Calls for Strategic Investment in Protected Areas to Unlock Nigeria’s Ecotourism Potential

A Senior Lecturer in the Department of Wildlife and Ecotourism Management, Faculty of Renewable Natural Resources, University of Ibadan, Dr. Adeniyi Taiye Adeyanju, has called for strategic investment, effective management, and stronger partnerships to unlock the conservation and economic potential of protected areas in Nigeria through ecotourism.  

He made the call while delivering the 6th Faculty Lecture of the Faculty of Renewable Natural Resources on behalf of the Department of Wildlife and Ecotourism Management.  

The lecture was entitled: _“Sustainable Development within Nigeria’s Protected Areas: Resource Conservation-Based Ecotourism in Nigeria, Is This Working?”_  

Dr. Adeyanju stated that Nigeria possesses diverse ecosystems and rich biodiversity with significant potential for conservation, research, tourism, and economic development.  

He however lamented that despite the country’s considerable natural resources, the potential of its protected areas remains largely underutilized due to inadequate funding, poor infrastructure, insecurity, weak governance, and insufficient human capacity.  

The lecturer stressed that protected areas should not merely exist as legally designated spaces but must have clear management objectives, adequate resources, and measurable targets to ensure effective conservation. He noted that updated management plans are essential to provide direction for conservation activities, resolve land-use conflicts, and establish indicators to assess management success.  

Examining the role of ecotourism, Dr. Adeyanju said it could generate revenue and provide employment opportunities, but should not be regarded as a complete solution to Nigeria’s conservation challenges. He observed that community-based ecotourism could fail when economic benefits to local communities are insufficient to compensate for restrictions on farming, hunting, logging, and other resource-dependent activities.  

He therefore advocated a more inclusive approach that gives surrounding communities tangible benefits through alternative livelihoods, employment opportunities, and participation in decision-making.  

Citing Yankari Game Reserve, Omo Forest Reserve, and Okomu National Park as examples of protected areas with significant conservation and ecotourism potential, he noted that they face varying levels of management and infrastructural challenges.  

Dr. Adeyanju called for collaborative management involving government, conservation organizations, researchers, and local communities to balance conservation objectives with livelihood needs. He also advocated public-private partnerships and co-management arrangements to address funding and operational challenges. According to him, such partnerships would provide additional financial resources, technical expertise, modern conservation technologies, and improved operational efficiency.  

The wildlife expert further stressed the importance of technology in conservation, calling for the use of Geographic Information Systems, drones, camera traps, and digital monitoring systems to strengthen wildlife protection and improve evidence-based decision-making.  

He also advocated increased investment in research and human capacity development in wildlife management, ornithology, ecotourism, and other areas relevant to sustainable management of natural resources.  

Dr. Adeyanju emphasized that the success of conservation efforts depends largely on the relationship between protected areas and neighbouring communities, and that communities should be treated as partners rather than threats to biodiversity. He reiterated the need for alternative livelihood programmes, agricultural support, improved infrastructure, and greater community participation to reduce pressure on protected-area resources.  

He asserted that Nigeria could derive greater economic, environmental, and social benefits from its protected areas if the country moved beyond merely establishing conservation areas to adequately funding, managing, and developing them.  

He, therefore, called for deliberate policies, effective governance, and sustained investment in infrastructure, conservation technology, human capacity, and community development to make ecotourism a more effective tool for biodiversity conservation and sustainable development in Nigeria.