By Ehigimetor Igbaugba
The collaboration between the Nigerian Conservation Foundation (NCF) and the University of Calabar (UniCal) on how to save the endangered Cross River Gorillas from going into extinction has produced four postgraduate graduands.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Mr Uchenna Achunine, Director, Business Development and Partnership, NCF, revealed this during the Project Advisory Committee (PAC) meeting of the Calgary Zoo-supported project held in Calabar on Monday.
Achunine, who doubles as Chairman of PAC, also revealed that two other postgraduate students who were on scholarship of the collaboration would round off their studies before the year ends from the department of Forestry and Wildlife, UniCal.
While noting that the PAC was to take stock of the project implementation, which entered its final stage, he said that the success of the collaboration reflected on the performance of the beneficiaries where three of them came out with distinctions.
He explained that the initial plan of five postgraduate scholarships was later expanded with an additional one.
“As of today, we already have one Ph.D and three Masters degrees, with the other two due to round up before the end of the year,” he said.
Achunine said six other partners were among the team that has ensured the success of the project.
According to him, these partners were well chosen and have made valuable contributions to this programme.”
In his remarks, Prof. Effiong Effiong, Vice Chancellor, UniCal, urged the graduands to utilise the sacrifices by the NCF and the university to make meaningful impact in the environment.
Represented by Prof. Egrinya Eneji, Deputy Vice Chancellor, Research, Linkages, and Collaboration, Efiong acknowledged the impact the collaboration had created over the years on teaching staff of the forestry and wildlife department as well as the graduands.
“UniCal will like to continue with this collaboration for as long as possible to break new ground in the area of conservation,” he said.
NAN reports that the five years collaboration, which began in 2022, is expected to come to an end in August 2027.
The programme is funded by Calgary Zoo Foundation/Wilder Institute, Canada.
It also has Centre for Biodiversity, Conservation, and Research (CBCR) Ghana; Cross River National Park; and Forestry Commission as other partners.
The next meeting of the PAC is expected to take place in November ahead of the programme wind down in August 2027.
NAN