ESLF, GEF-SGP HOLD AWARENESS RALLY ON SUSTAINABLE TRADITIONAL MEDICINE PRACTICE, BIODIVERSITY LOSS AT JATO-AKA.

Eunice Spring of Life Foundation (ESLF) has organised a one-day awareness campaign on biodiversity loss, climate change, sustainable traditional medicine practice and COVID-19 funded by Global Environment Facility Small Grant Program (GEF-SGP).

The rally which held on Friday at Jato Aka Town in Kwande Local Government Area of Benue State, addressed various environmental issues such as effects of climate change, biodiversity loss, deforestation and loss of soil fertility caused by unsustainable harvesting of herbs for traditional medicine, and indiscriminate cutting down of trees for household cooking, timber and farming among the indigenous people of Ugbe of Moon District in Kwande.

This project aims to build and increase resilience of the community’s people towards biodiversity conservation and effectively adopting and responding to the impact of climate change.

Speaking during the rally, Chairman of the Project Implementation Committee (PIC), Mr. Thaddeus Nyooso urged the people to embrace the project and own it, as the programme would help protect their cultural heritage as a people.

A traditional herbal medicine practitioner, Mr. Tor Akase who confirmed the efficacy of the Ugbe traditional medicine, however lamented the violent attacks unleashed on their communities by suspected herdsmen which have displaced them and affected their trade.

Others who spoke including Mrs. Nguher Ugba, Doofan Msughter, Termough Wende and Ihongo Cephas all testified to the many benefits of the GEF-funded project implemented by ESLF. They maintained that it would not only help to promote their health as individuals, families and communities but also protect their rich cultural heritage passed to them by their forebears which they are obliged to bequeath to future generations as a legacy.

In February 2024, ESLF had commenced implementation of the GEF-SGP project with advocacy visits to the traditional leaders and people of the community, followed by a meeting with 50 stakeholders from the community where the elderly, youths, women, Persons with Disability, religious leaders among others were well represented.

The theme of the project is, “Addressing Biodiversity Loss and Promoting Sustainable Traditional Medicinal Practices among the Ugbe Indigenous People of Kwande Local Government Area of Benue State, Nigeria”.

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