Most Rev. Dr. Matthew Hassan Kukah, Bishop of the Sokoto Catholic Diocese, has been confirmed by the Nigerian Conservation Foundation (NCF) to deliver the 24th edition of the Chief S.L. Edu Memorial Lecture.
The annual flagship event organised by the NCF in collaboration with the family of the late Chief S.L. Edu is scheduled to hold on Friday in Lagos.
A statement by the NCF said the lecture would dwell on the theme, "To Have and To Hold: Faith and Care of the Environment."
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The NCF described the guest speaker as "a respected moral voice, scholar, and advocate whose work spans faith, governance, and social justice."
The Chief S.L. Edu Memorial Lecture is the flagship advocacy tool of the Nigerian Conservation Foundation aimed at bringing pertinent environmental issues to the fore while advocating solutions through renowned speakers.
For over two decades, the lecture has provided a platform to address pressing environmental and sustainability issues in Nigeria and beyond.
Through renowned speakers, the event has consistently articulated solutions to environmental challenges while promoting sustainable development.
According to the NCF, this year's theme is a profound reflection on humanity's moral relationship with nature.
"It invites a critical examination of whether our beliefs inspire responsible stewardship of the environment or unintentionally contribute to its degradation," it said.
Speaking ahead of the event, Dr. Joseph Onoja, Director-General of the Nigerian Conservation Foundation, stressed the importance of the annual lecture.
"At a time when Africa confronts intertwined crises of environmental degradation, inequality, and leadership deficits, the Chief S.L. Edu Memorial Lecture calls us back to values of responsibility, stewardship, and justice. Sustainability is not only a technical challenge; it is a moral one. This platform exists to remind us that the future we seek must be guided by conscience as much as policy," he said.
In line with its commitment to knowledge generation and capacity building, the Foundation will also award research grants to two PhD candidates in Nigerian universities whose work focuses on environmental sciences and sustainability. The grants support research in biodiversity conservation, environmental management, and sustainable livelihoods, following a rigorous and transparent adjudication process involving academics, professionals and stakeholders in the fields of conservation. Since inception, 48 candidates have been awarded this scholarship.
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