By Emmanuel Elebeke 

The Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Chief Uche Nnaji, has inaugurated the Nigeria Committee on Geo-Science and Geo-Park Programme (IGGP-NNC), a 15-man committee tasked with promoting Nigeria’s geological heritage.

At the UNESCO inaugural workshop in Abuja, Chief Nnaji charged the committee members to assist Nigeria in identifying UNESCO Global Geo-Science and Geo-Park programs as potential tourism and education resources.     

He emphasized the importance of dedication in achieving the committee’s mandate.

The Committee terms of reference include: to run and operate the Secretariat;  manage the day-to-day activities of the committee; propose Individuals for International Geoscience Program Scientific Board: Nominate experts for the scientific board; stimulate Participation in IGCP; encourage Nigerian geoscientists to participate in new projects; share ongoing International Geoscience Research; facilitate knowledge sharing and collaboration; identify Geological Heritage;  document and preserve Nigeria’s geological sites.

This development is consistent with the government’s efforts to promote education, tourism, and economic growth through strategic initiatives. Similar committees have been established in other sectors, such as education and democracy day celebrations.

The UNESCO Head of Operations, Dr. Abdurrahman Diallo said for Nigeria to fully be part of global Geo-Park and Geo-Science programmes, it needs to have a national committee. 

“So, an international committee for geoparks and geosciences, national committee for Nigeria is needed. So, it was important that in Nigeria we have a national committee, which will be the one which will reflect on all these issues, on geosciences.

“It’s a kind of technical advisor for the country. And it’s through this national committee also that the application for the country, for sites, for geoparks to be recognized and listed by UNESCO.

UNESCO has several programs also where we recognize protected areas.

“We have the World Heritage Program, where we have natural sites. We have also the Biosphere Reserve and the Man and Biosphere Program, where we recognize natural sites. So now, the geoparks is another type of site also, recognized for the outstanding value of the geology there.

“The committee will be the one reviewing first the status in Nigeria, what they have, what are the potential, etc and those that can be considered to be recognized as geoparks. 

“So far in Africa, there are only two of them. One in Tanzania, one in Morocco. 

There’s a lot to do in Nigeria. And in Nigeria, there’s a lot of potential, as we witness.”

He however, admitted that a work  had been done in Nigeria by the expert in which some geosite were discovered to have heritage value. 

On how UNESCO could recognize some Nigerian sites, he said “the committee will go through a few of the identified sites and consider a few of them to be submitted for recognition because the file to be submitted is to be backed with a lot of information, documentation.

So, the different researchers, universities, etc., will document the file fully so that it can be completed and then submitted for recognition.”

The Chairman of the committee, Dr. Aminu Isiaku, promisee that his committee will work hard and ensure it takes into consideration community participation and also tourism attraction, in manner that it is going to create a lot of jobs for Nigerian people and also uplift communities, place communities on the global map for tourism attraction and also most importantly for scientific studies and education as well. 

According to him, there are over 147 geo-park and Geo- science sites which need to be well documented and showcased for UNESCO recognition.

“So with the coming of this national committee we are going to set out to work together with all the line ministries and the relevant MDAs in the country to develop this international collaboration for this sector such that as we set out as a country to develop our geological resources, called geoconservation of geoheritage elements in this country.

 So this is what this committee is all about. 

“Presently there are a number of sites that we can say somehow developed to that extent. By the time we tidy all this information up we will now be able to put up an application in UNESCO for the global designation of those sites as UNESCO Global Geoparks. 

“However, we are yet to develop Nigeria’s geo-heritage sector such that there are sites that should be conserved and protected. And also, by doing so, we will be developing our geo-tourism sector. And that has some revenue potential for the country and most importantly for the communities living in those areas.”

Nigeria joined this programme initiated in 1972, and after a year, the team has finally come together to participate in the global  stage.

Nigeria has been actively involved in Geo-Science and Geo-Park programs, with the Nigerian Geological Survey Agency (NGSA) playing a key role.