Celebrations galore as Eco Charity Festival begins

Unprecedented fanfare that goes beyond Yuletide awaits tourists at the 2015/2016 9ja Eco Charity Festival, which kicks off today at the New Lekki Beach Arcade. The festival runs till January 2, 2016 with the proceeds of the festival to be donated to charity organizations.

Chief sponsor of the festival, ‘Eco-Restoration Foundation of Nigeria’ (ERFON), is an environmental stewardship organisation that develops community-based sustainability projects that inspire the protection, restoration and conservation of vital ecosystems as well as eco-services they provide.

The Executive Director, Eco Restoration Foundation of Nigeria, David Omaghomi, described 9ja Eco Charity Festival as an event that leverages on the media and entertainment industry to promote environmental responsibilities in Nigeria.

“Basically, the festival will provide a rich cocktail of entertainment, family fun fair, sports, gifts and trade opportunities to thousands of people from all demographics of the world and promote the awareness of environmental responsibility to millions of visitors and viewers around the world. Proceeds from the festival will be directed to non-profit organisations that promote coastal wetland and their restoration conservation and protection programmes,” he said.

Omaghomi, who said the programme would also take place during Easter, added that 5,000 trees would be planted at the beach, including the symbolic five trees that have been planted. He lauded the Lagos Park Agency that is creating the awareness of tree planting, adding that other stakeholders should be brought in to make people more eco-friendly.

Omaghomi also revealed that during the festival, prizes to be won include trees that winners could plant in their homes and streets, eco puzzles in The Guardian Newspapers among others. “We are trying to bring Lekki Beach back to what it used to be when there were thousands of trees on the shores of the beach, which today have disappeared due to coastal erosion.

Inspector Ilugbusi Omotayo, who represented Commander Rapid Response Squad (RRS) assured that there would be enough policemen and rapid response squad to protect lives and properties while Mr. Oshodi Lateef, who represented Lagos State Traffic Management Agency (LASTMA) said the agency would ensure peace during the festival.