University of Ibadan Don Calls for Multi-Stakeholder Action to Halt Nigeria’s Forest Decline

A Professor of Forestry Extension and Rural Learning at the University of Ibadan, Prof. Ismail Olabisi Azeez, has called for a coordinated multi-stakeholder strategy to address the escalating problem of deforestation and forest degradation in Nigeria.

He made the call while delivering the 614th Inaugural Lecture of the University of Ibadan, titled “Multi-Stakeholder Approach to Remediating Nigeria’s Vanishing Forests – A Learner’s Perspective.”

Prof. Azeez traced the historical trajectory of global forest resources from ancient times to the present, noting that forests were once sustainably managed under indigenous systems before the expansion of commercial exploitation.

He observed that pre-colonial African societies preserved forests through sacred groves, customary laws and community-based conservation practices that ensured ecological balance.

According to him, the colonial period between 1900 and 1960 marked a major shift in Nigeria’s forestry landscape, as forests were transformed from communal heritage into economic assets, leading to intensified timber extraction, the establishment of forest reserves and the growth of export-oriented timber trade.

He warned that despite their importance to biodiversity conservation, climate regulation and rural livelihoods, forests continue to face steady depletion globally, with severe environmental, economic and social consequences such as biodiversity loss, climate change impacts and rural livelihood disruptions.

The don noted that in Nigeria, forest ecosystems are increasingly under pressure from deforestation, urban expansion, agricultural activities and unsustainable exploitation practices.

He identified forestry extension services as a critical link between research findings, policy formulation and forest-dependent communities, stressing that effective forest management cannot be achieved by a single actor.

Prof. Azeez argued that local communities remain the most suitable custodians of tropical forests due to their direct dependence on them, but emphasized that sustainable management requires collaborative governance involving government, communities, research institutions, non-governmental organisations and the private sector.

He highlighted major constraints facing forestry extension in Nigeria, including inadequate funding, shortage of trained personnel, weak institutional structures and poor integration of local knowledge into policy implementation.

To address these challenges, he recommended strengthening community-based forest management systems, empowering forest-fringe communities through technical training, and integrating indigenous knowledge into conservation frameworks.

He also called for increased stakeholder awareness, expansion of afforestation and reforestation programmes, and improved extension services that can bridge the gap between policy and grassroots implementation.

Prof. Azeez urged state forestry departments to establish functional extension units staffed by trained communication and rural learning professionals capable of applying modern learning approaches.

He further advocated stronger community leadership structures, capacity building for local actors, and the integration of indigenous knowledge systems with modern conservation strategies.

According to him, effective use of electronic and print media is essential for sensitising policymakers and the public on the importance of forests to sustainable development, industrial growth and environmental protection.

The don identified forestry development communication, sustainable rural land use practices, indigenous knowledge systems and extension services as key tools for improving forest management outcomes in Nigeria.

He stressed that research-driven, participatory and technology-enabled approaches are necessary to make forestry extension more responsive, inclusive and impactful in addressing current environmental challenges.

The lecture was the 11th in the University of Ibadan’s 2025/2026 inaugural lecture series.