
Prof in Omo earlier this year, doing what he loved
It is with a very heavy heart that we announce the death of Professor Emmanuel Obot, affectionately known as ‘Prof’ by his friends. As the Executive Director of the Nigerian Conservation Foundation (NCF: the senior agency in the Omo-Shasha-Oluwa Initiative) as well as a friend to everyone he met, this is particularly sad. Indeed it was only a few weeks ago that Prof visited Omo to indulge in his true passion, which was looking for orchids (photo left).
His work was recognised globally, as demonstrated by testimonies from the international conservation community. These include articles (which can be accessed by clicking on the links) from the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF).
Other tributes from the international conservation community include the following:
“We are devastated by this news which I received this evening in Seoul. We will be writing to Professor Obot’s family, and colleagues, as well as doing a web tribute, but none of this can bring him back. He was a wonderful man!” (Julia Marton-Lefèvre, Director General of IUCN)
“Professor Obot has been a part of the WWF family for a very long time. He has been a steadfast colleague to all of us, and a hugely important leader for conservation in Nigeria. We mourn his loss and will reach out to his family and colleagues at this very sad time.” (Jim Leape, Director General of WWF International)
“Sad, very sad to lose such a distinguished scientist. I met him in Delhi and exchanged views. Very brave man, may the lord embrace him with mercy and passion.” (Mohamed Shahbaz, IUCN Regional Councilor for West Asia)
“I have been traveling from NZ to Cambridge,U.K. unaware until now of this very sad and tragic news of the loss of a much respected and cherished colleague.” (Aroha Mead, Victoria University of Wellington)
“I only had a chance to meet and work with Emmanuel on two or three occasions, but in addition to all the good things that others have said about him, I would add his what impressed me was his gentility — even in the heat discussions of controversial issues. It is an incredible loss not only to IUCN, CEESP [IUCN Commission on Economic Environmental and Social Policy], and SEAPRISE [Social and Environmental Accountability in the Private Sector group] , it is also a loss to his family, colleagues, and friends.” (Richard Cellarius, International Vice-President, Sierra Club)
“I have just learned of the recent, terrible, death of Prof. Obot… I have heard many very impressive things about him and his work. Please, convey my deepest condolences to his family.” (Jack Frazier, Smithsonian National Zoological Park, Conservation & Research Center)
“This is truly horrible news. I had actually sent Prof. and a couple other Nigerian friends, an email yesterday asking if they were OK, and offering condolence for the loss of life in the disaster. Prof. was always a good friend, an exceptional voice for conservation, and one of the real shining lights to me, and may others. All of us, and the planet, have lost a true ally and friend.” (Richard Steiner, Oasis Earth)
“What terrible news. This is devastating. Please extend our deepest condolences to his family, his colleagues and to the SEAPRISE network.” (Nigel Crawhill, IUCN TILCEPA Specialist Group on Mountain Conservation Social Policy)
Prof. died in the horrific plane crash in Lagos on June 3rd 2012. For more information on this great man’s life, please read the announcement prepared by NCF by clicking here.
The following article by Isa Abdulsalami in Jos was printed last Friday on page 20 in The Guardian newspaper (Nigeria) highlighting the need for action in regards to the Nigeria-Cameroon Chimpanzees, a sub-species that has one of its last remaining populations within the Omo-Shasha-Oluwa forest complex:
“A TEAM of Nigerian Conservation biologists has raised alarm that the rare Nigeria-Cameroun Chimpanzees, a recently recognised subspecies and one of the most endangered of all apes in the world may soon go into extinction.
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