NIGERIAN ARTIST FIGHTS DÉFORESTATION

AGM/Nigeria     « Animals are crying because their ecosystem, their place of living is being taken away by human beings. They are crying in the wilderness. And as we are creating for our environment, we are enpowering people ». Olalekan Olasekan

Nigeria has one of the highest rates of deforestation in the world having lost around 410,100 hectare per year, over the period 2005 to 2010, according to revised deforestation figures from the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). Between 2000 and 2005 the country lost 55.7 percent of its primary forests, defined as forests with no visible signs of past or present human activities. Logging, subsistence agriculture, and the collection of fuelwood are cited as leading causes of forest clearing in the West African country. Odigha Odigha, a forest activist and chairman of Nigeria's Cross River State Forestry Commission told "The rate of deforestation in Nigeria is quite frightening. What is left is less than ten percent of the whole country and more than 50 percent of that is in Cross River State, there will be no forest left in six to ten years if this continues."

Otherwise, nigerian artist Olalekan Olasekan doesn't want to see trees being cut down and wood being wasted. His art draws attention to the animals and insects losing their habitats through deforestation.

These animal sculptures are made from sawdust, the material is plentiful in Lagos due to deforestation unfortunately. Artist Olalekan Lasekan uses it to highlight environmental damage; he mixes the sawdust with water to sculpt creations with a message. Today Lasekan’s works cost between 200 and 600 Euro each piece. He’s won numerous awards both for his art, and his commitment to the environment.

Penda DJIGO/AGM