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Okomu National Park, Bénin (2026)

10/10/2021

Recently, the Conservation of Okomu National Park, CP Augustine Okenyi Obekpa and his Management Team, paid a courtesy visit to the Edo State Commandant of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defense Corps- NSCDC, Commandant Aniekan Edem Udoeyop.
While welcoming the CP and entourage in his Office, Commandant Udoeyop, expressed joy to the Park's visit, saying he was particularly happy that at the CP's short resumption in the State, he deemed it imperative to reach out to sister paramilitary and security agencies.
Underscoring the essence of the visit amongst other salient issues bordering on the protection and conservation of natural capital, n the need for synergy to actualize the goals of establishing the Park, through joint collaboration, the CP urged for more inclusiveness, especially in the areas of assisting with its personnel and technical supports, when such needs arose. He further expressed genuine joy and appreciation to the Corps on its support accorded the Park during the recent visit of the Honorable Minister of Environment to the Park, and urged for the maintenance and consolidation of this synergy.
The NSCDC, boss, promised to continue the synergy where his predecessor stopped, and even do more, as issues bordering on the protection and conservation of natural capital was not only a collective one, but also a national security issue, equally demanding all hands to be on deck. Take a Look!!

21/08/2021

It was the turn of the Management of Okomu National Park, for a change of baton. The time was 2:15pm on the dot, Friday, August 20, 2021, when CP Tesleem Adeniyi Kareem, officially handed the paraphernalia of office to CP Augustine Obekpa.
Earlier in the week, the duo had instituted the same, in a rather colorful ceremony, in Birnin- Gwari, the administrative office of Kamuku National Park, Kaduna.
The change of leadership in Okomu, was laced with a little bit of pomp and panoply, as the two CPs appended their insignias on a well- written, and comprehensive Hand-Over note, under the watchful eyes of the Park's Management team.
In their separate farewell and welcome remarks,CPs Kareem and Obekpa, respectively, thanked and welcomed officers and men of the Park, for the send forth and reception accorded them. CP Kareem, expressed due appreciation to staff for standing by him all through his two and a half years sojourn in the Park, and sued for better cooperation from staff to the incoming CP. He thanked all for the genuine support, and urged all to continue the fight against the perceived enemies of the Park.
CP Obekpa, believed too, that the needed support to galvanize aggressive protection of the Park will be key, as far as his administration will be concerned, and therefore, enjoined all to cultivate team work mantra.
At the Palace of HRH, the Iyase of Udo, where the new CP was officially introduced and presented to the royal father, the latter welcomed CP Obekpa to his domain, while bidding CP Kareem a Royal farewell. The Iyase promised yo give the incoming CP the palace's maximum support and cooperation, and making his domain habitable and convivial to all his operations. CP Obekpa expressed genuine pleasure for the royal reception and pledged to work hand- in- hand with the Palace.
At the administrative office of the Okomu Oil Palm Company PLC, where CP Obekpa was further taken to for official presentation, Dr. Graham Hefer, the MD of this multinational company, welcomed the new CP, while wishing the outgoing one well in his other endeavors. He emphasized the fervent need for continued collaboration and synergy with the Park, and pledged, as always, his wholehearted support for the Park.
In the area of technical and logistic supports, the MD faulted no word in continuing to do so, whenever the
Park Management saw the needs to do so. He promised to continue to maintain an opened- door policy all through the incoming CP's stay in Okomu.
Highlights of the colourful hand, and takeover program were group pix from officers and men of the Park, as well as in the Palace of the Iyase, and the office of the MD, the Okomu Oil Palm Company, plc.
Come wit me and do have a great time via pix!!

11/08/2021

With the seminal theme of Rangers "Safety and Wellbeing " The Conservator of Okomu National Park, CP Tesleem Adeniyi Kareem, together with the Officers and Men of the Park, joined the rest of the world to commemorate the Year 2021 World Ranger Day.
Taking a cue from the Park Headquarters, led by the Conservator-General and the Service's Team, This year's commemoration was rather unique, as Candlelight Procession heralded the commemoration proper. This was attended by a Zoom/ Webinar interaction anchored by the Park Headquarters, which saw in attendance a wide array of participants from all walks of life voicing their concerns on the dicey work processes of the Rangers, sometimes, paying the supreme price in the course of discharging their official duties, and the fervent need for these categories of staff to be supported.
A touchy and solemn-like speech from the Conservator-General, National Park Service to the whole world, set the ball rolling for the webinar event.
The Hon.Minister of Environment's very clear and concise rendition in honor of all fallen heroes and heroines, alongside solemn speeches from other important dignitaries capped the event on the need for all hands to be on deck to support the Rangers and other field officers to effectively carry out their set assignments- that of protecting the voiceless creatures on Earth. The Hon. Minister advocated for a Trust Fund to assist families and relatives of fallen rangers, as a memorable reminder that the labour of their lost ones in the course of duty will, after all, not be, and had never been in vain.
In his own speech to close the commemoration event, CP Tesleem Kareem, underscored the fact that, in attempting to protect the Biodiversity, aside from voiced concerns and advocacy for better working environment for Rangers, for him, ATTITUDINAL CHANGE, from all will rather up the ante, at ensuring that Rangers tried their very best, attitude wise. He adduced that with a change of attitude from all, there will be no need for betrayal, false trust, and above all compromise in trying to carry out legitimate duties, especially, in the field.
Finally, the CP prayed for all the departed heroes and heroines across the globe, who, in the line of duty, went into harms way, and put their lives on the line for the singular aim of protecting our wild places on earth.
Having observed a minute silence, The CP particularly prayed for the following fallen Rangers from Okomu National Park: Arome Okpanachi, Ya'u Mailafia, Olorunfemi Olugbade, Marbel Erhabor, Josephine Udoka, Friday Efe Omoragbon, Kenneth Ehigie, and Umoru Inusa.
Gift items were eventually handed down to families of fallen Rangers in the course of the commemoration, as well as group photographs taken of the entire event.
Come with me!!

18/07/2021

More, highlights of the Hon. Minister of Environment/ Conservator- General's and other dignitaries' visit to Okomu National Park. Date: July 15, 2021, to officially received various field and security equipment donated by the NCF/AC BIOPAMA Programmes in the Park.
Take a look.

18/07/2021

The date was Thursday, July 15, 2021, the Administrative office of National Park Service- Okomu National Park was a Mecca of sort, as it played host to a coterie of Dignitaries.
The event, unique and full of superlative splendour was the visit of the Hon.Minister of Environment, Dr. Mohammed Mahmood Abubakar and Hus entourage to Okomu National Park, Udo. It will be the first time, a Federal Minister made such a visit, since the Park was established, more than two decades ago.
Intow with the Hon. Minister's crew were Dr. Ibrahim Musa Goni (fwison, fhtpn) the Conservator-General, National Park Service, it will also be his first time to visit the Park, since becoming the CG, Dr Muhtari Aminu-Kano , the Director,- General, Nigerian Conservation Foundation (NCF), represented by the Director of Technical Programs, Dr. Joseph Onoja, the Asst Conservator-General, ERM, Park Hqtrs, Dr George Okeyoyin, the Managing Director of the Okomu Oil Palm Company PLC, Dr. Graham Hefer, the Iyase of Udo, Chief Patrick Igbinindu JP, and his council of chiefs, representatives from paramilitary and other security Agencies, including the Police, DSS, Civil Defence, the Military, NGOs, people from the Park's Support Zone Communities of the Park, as well as friends of Okomu National Park.
The crux of the matter was the official reception of donated security and field items, by the NCF/ Action Component of the Biodiversity and Protected Areas Management Programme, BIOPAMA to the Hon. Minister, and the eventual hand-over of same to the CG, National Park Service.
Items donated and handed over to the Service to build capacity, and enhance on-the-job efficiency, as well as galvanize effective and resourceful alternative livelihoods opportunities withiin the Park's local communities, included 10 motorbikes, 2 Drones, 2hp Laptops, 30pcs Motorola walki-talkie communication sets, 30 pcs of high resolution pairs of binoculars, 5 GPS, 50 units of sewn uniform kits for 50 already-trained field rangers additional spare parts for d bikes, as well as assorted alternative livelihoods materials for the Park's various support zone communities.
In his well- crafted speech to welcome these dignitaries to the Park for the occasion, CP Tesleem Adeniyi Kareem, the Conservator of Okomu National Park, extolled the many good virtues of the important personalities, including the Hon. Minister, the CG, the DG, and others to have found time to visit the Park for the event, despite their very fight official exigencies. He presented the many scorecards of the Park, as well as raised voiced concerns on the legion of challenges bedeviling Park management. He also reiterated the positive collaborative framework and partnerships charted by the Service with various development partners, including the NGOs, such as NCF, BIOPAMA, SCERA, EDSI, The Okomu Oil Palm Company Plc, amongst others. He called on others to come to the aid of the Park, especially in the area of providing technical supports and logistics to prosecute and accentuate conservation and protection programmes.
In their separate speeches, the DG- NCF underscored the fact that supports such as the ones given to Okomu will go a long way at ensuring the security of the Park, as well as improve the working standards of field officers. He added that with the provision of security equipment such as the drones, the sanctity of the Park resources can be guaranteed. He enthused that the bikes will fast-track rapid response to poaching areas in the Park, as well as leverage on the modern strategies of protected areas management. The livelihoods items donated, including 5000 fish fingerlings and their attendant starter feeds handed down various local communities of the Park is intended to precipitate economic gains and development in the communities, with a view to improving and mainstreaming local economies, while aiming at dissuading them from feeding off the dwindling resourced of the Park.
The CG, while expressing genuine joy on the Hon. Minister's visit to the Park, equally impressed on the Hon. Minister to use his good office to attract more partnership to the Service, as he had been doing. The CG also called on other development partners to come and assist the Service in whatever capacity. He commended the various collaborative and interventionist programs always churned out from the Management of the Okomu Oil Palm Company Plc, led by Dr. Graham Hefer, the MD of this Multinational Company, and urged that it be sustained.
The MD, expressed genuine joy over the entire visit and hoped this visit will catalyze an amalgam of better things to come to the Park.
In His vote of thanks at the end of the events, Dr. Okeyoyin expressed happiness over the Hon. Minister's choice of visit to the Park, and wished him well in life. He Also, appreciated NCF/AC BIOPAMA for the donated equipment, and demanded that more of such equipment, when provide will enhance the effective protection and management of the Park.
Highlights of the great event were, cultural displays to entertain the Hon. Minister and entourage, inspection of Guard of Honour, review of Parade mounted by a detachment of Park officials, as well as the singular opportunity to commission various projects in the Park, including the Staff Canteen, the Quarter Guard, The Research building, built and donated by the management of the Okomu Oil Palm company, Plc, as well as the transformer, linking the Park's administrative office to the National Grid.
Take a look!!

28/05/2021

In line with the necessary provisions as enshrined in the MoU, officially signed between the Management's of the Okomu Oil Palm Company Plc, and the Park Service, the Management of Okomu National Park, conducted a 5-day training programme for the Company's Eco-guard staff. Specific targeted areas of conservation, including the Company's High Conservation Value Areas- HCVAs, for which the multinational Oil Palm and Rubber Company parades quite a few, such as HCVAs 1,3,4,5&6.
High Conservation Value- HCV connotes the biological, ecological, social, or cultural values of outstanding significance, or critically- important at global, regional, or national levels. HCVs are embedded in High Conservation Value Areas- HCVAs, and these areas can be found in Govt, NGOs, multinational or private organizations.
Requisite areas of trainings were;
i. Rudiments of anti- poaching patrol operations in Protected Areas, security, as well as well self defence mechanism. This aspect was anchored by the Park's Head of Ecology and Resource Management DCP George Vincent;
ii. Basic Wildlife Laws, including International Protocols and Treaties, anchored by the Park's ACP Special Duties, Mathias Enaberue:
iii.Threats Reporting in HCVAs broached by the Park's Head of Planning, Research and ICT, ACP Innocent Asuquo.
The training programme which was highly interactive in nature, saw trainees asking various, and raising voiced concerns on the fervent need to protect areas designated as harbouring high conservation values, and also the importance of capacity buildings to ensure that Eco-Guards effectively trained and equipped to tackle the many issues bedeviling these Biologically-rich, and culturally-&diversed areas..
At the end of the training programme, which was facilitated by the Company's Health, Safety and Environment- HSE Department, trainees were availed of the opportunity to carry out practical demonstration in the identified HCVAs at the Main Estate of the Company.
At the sidelines of the training, Certificates were awarded to the Eco- Guard-trainees
Take a walk with me!!!

24/05/2021

The United Nations' World Biodiversity Day is commemorated every 22nd Day in the month of May. This year's event was marked with great enthusiasm, as aptly captured by the seminal theme of the year " We Are Part of The Solution. "
The Conservator-General's global appearance as one of the eggheads in Biodiversity concerns, alongside very high-profiled dignitaries, including His Excellency, former President Olusegun Aremu Obasanjo, underscored the import of this year's event. Sufficed to say that the presentations from these practitioners of the Environment during the commemoration, which was via Zoom platform, raised various voice concerns as to the marginal threshold that bespeaks the Earth's Biodiversity profile, and the fervent need to walk the talk regarding humans, being part of the solution.
In tow with the indelible footprint of the Conservator-General, Dr Ibrahim Musa Goni (fWISON), in showcasing relevant issues that have to do with the Nature's Capital Stock, the Management of Okomu National Park, led by CP Tesleem Adeniyi Kareem- the Conservator of Parks, appeared in one of the electronic Media Houses in Benin City, Edo State, VIBES Radio, 97.3FM, in collaboration with a Rural- based, Focal NGO,; Sustainability and Conservation Education for Rural Areas- SCERA, to further bring to the fore, the dire concerns that have bedeviled global Biodiversity, and the need for all hands to be on deck to save National, Regional and Global Biodiversity.
CP Tesleem Kareem threw light on a potpourri of issues that define the Environment, as well as critical issues that overlie the management of Okomu National Park, as well as other Parks, and the clarion call for all stakeholders to clamour for the sustainable protection of Biodiversity, especially in the National Parks, as part of the global solution to the Environment, Biodiversity, and mankind. The CP was accompanied to the Media House with the Park's Head of Planning, Research and ICT.
Take a look!!

12/05/2021

The Conservator of Okomu National Park, CP Tesleem Adeniyi Kareem, on behalf of the Officers and Men of Okomu National Park, joins the National Park family to heartily felicitate with our Sustainably- Innovative Conservator-General, National Park Service, Ibrahim Musa Goni- (Ph.D), the Kogunan of Borgu Emirate, on the occasion of the celebration of Ed-El Fitr, marking the end of Ramadan.
We in Okomu National Park, remain firm and resolute, and continue to identify with the Conservator- General's leadership policies of repositioning the Park Service to it's greater heights, with the ultimate burning desire to bequeath on posterity, a Service that will not only be self- sustaining, but one that will also compete favourably with Park Service in other clime, in tandem with Global Best Practices.
Congratulations, Sir, and Barka da Sallah.

12/05/2021

The various aerial photographs of the Okomu National Park's Head office and Environ, alongside the presentation exercise of alternative livelihoods items to the Parks Support Zone Communities by the Action Component of Biodiversity Protection and Management/NCF Programs in the Park- (BIOPAMA AC/ NCF)
These Aerial photographs taken from the Drone was a fall out of the demonstration exercise conducted by trained officers and men of the Park, having been trained recently by Drone experts from BIOPAMA/NCF Programs in the Park.
Take a look.

24/04/2021

More pix of the first phase in a series of advocacy visits to statutory Military and Paramilitary Organizations and Agencies.

23/04/2021

With a Moratorium graciously placed on illegal logging within and around Okomu National Park, by His Excellency, The Executive Governor of Edo State, Governor Godwin Nogheghase Obaseki, the Conservator of Okomu National Park, CP Tesleem Adeniyi Kareem, and his Management Team have now heaved a heavy sigh of relieve.
The said moratorium on logging came at a prize, after various atrocious fight precariously engaged logging groups and Associations by the dogged Conservator of Parks CP T.A.Kareem for two solid years running.
Indeed, having seemingly survived various threats to life, a floodgate of petitions from classified groups, open and sometimes confrontational innuendos laced on him and his management team, various strategic frameworks put in place to galvanize effective field operations, inadequate funds to prosecute some very urgent Management decisions, clashes of interests within the corridors of power, this Crisis Manager had to utilized that elbow room presented by this forgone success and reprieve to carry out a week- long advocacy visits to sister military and paramilitary agencies and Organizations within the official purview of the Park.
In the series of courtesy visits conducted, CP T.A.Kareem took his management team first to the office of the Edo State Commissioner of Police, CP Phillip Aliyu Ogbadu, where pre-existed collaboration was renewed. CP Kareem, while thanking the new Police Boss in the State, appreciated the positive efforts of his predecessors, and sued for more synergy with the Park. The Police boss affirmed the Command's readiness to always partner with the Park, especially in the areas of personnel and logistic assistance. He said information and intelligence sharing will be key for a proactive and result-oriented collaboration.
At the administrative office of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps, the Edo State Commandant, E.U.Edem, while welcoming the CP and his team, traced a long history of collaboration between the Park Service and NSCDC. He said that the Corps had the capacity to train the Park officials, and intervene in areas of needs. Like the Commissioner of Police, the commandant believed that gathering intelligence and information will fasttrack any useful collaboration. He however decried the obsolete nature of the Service's arms and ammunitions.
The CP and team headed for the office of the State Director of State Security Services, DSS, where him and his management team were received by the Directors of Personnel and that of Logistics and Information. Here, too, collaboration was sought by the Park, the Directors, commended the efforts of Park Management led by CP Kareem, and promised to always partner with the Park in any area of challenge. The DSS authorities believed that issues of contemporary weaponry as sought for by the Park, should be channeled to appropriate authorities for redress.
A visit to the office of Henry Benamaisia, the Sector Commander of the Federal Road Safety Corps- FRSC, Edo State, was to reemphasize the need for continued collaboration with the Park. In his response, the FRSC Boss, thanked Park Management for the visit, and reaffirmed the Corps commitments to partner with the Park. He promised to harness the Park's facilities for their forthcoming retreat, and to grace this years, WRD, come July, 31st.
At the Federal Fire Service, the State Commandant, Bidemi Ayoola, expressed genuine joy on the Park Management's visit to her formation. He assured the Park of the Service's readiness to partner with it.
At the Zone G Correctional Service, comprising the States of Edo, Delta, Anambra, Enugu and Ebonyi, ACG-C Clementine Okereke was full of smiles to play host to Park Management's visit to the Zone's Administrative office. She pledged for collaboration, while delving into the workings of the Service, which she said is of more correctional rather than punishment for inmates.
At the Headquarters of the 4 Brigade of the Nigerian Army, Brigadier-General M.A.Sadiq, the Brigade Commander, alongside his principal officers, welcomed the CP and his management team to his office. He assured the CP that his Command will always be ready, just as it has always been to partner and assist the Park, in joint patrols, and other functional logistics. He thanked the CP and his team for visiting and promised to grace the commemorative event of WRD come July 31st.
The second phase of these all- important official visits will kickstart by May, when the remaining statutory Agencies such as Immigration, Customs, Justice, Media Houses, including The NTA, and ITV, etc will be covered.
By every standards, these advocacy visits had been heralded by many as a huge success, and one that will further accentuate many positive, and result-driven institutional synergies between the Park and other statutory Agencies. Thanks to the doggedness of CP Tesleem Kareem. He goes by another Nome de plum- The Crisis Manager. Take a look in pix!!

13/04/2021

As part of the BIOPAMA AC/NCF Programme in Okomu National Park, and as a fallout of the alternative livelihoods training programmes earlier conducted for selected support zone communities of the Park, BIOPAMA, today, distributed capacity building alternative livelihoods materials to earlier trained community members. Items distributed to each of the selected communities included 50, four-weeks old chicks. 555 fish fingerlings, a bag of Fish and Poultry feeds each, as well as transport logistics to convey distributed items to their communities.
Distributing the livelihoods materials, the BIOPAMA/NCF programme Coordinator for NCF, Dayo Mahmud, appealed that distributed materials should be groomed to maturity for the overall interest of the benefiting community, online with the trainings that each selected support zone community underwent prior to this distribution of livelihoods materials.
Take a look.

Okomu National Park

10/10/2021

21/08/2021

11/08/2021

18/07/2021

18/07/2021

28/05/2021

24/05/2021

12/05/2021

12/05/2021

24/04/2021

23/04/2021

13/04/2021

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