Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of the Cross River State Forestry Commission, Rt. Hon. George O’ben-Etchi, PhD paid a working visit to the Conservator-General, Nigeria National Park Service, Dr. Ibrahim Goni at the National Park Headquarters, Abuja on Friday, 17th May, 2024.
During the meeting, discussions were focused on fostering synergy and collaboration for the training recently recruited Forest Rangers by the Cross River State Forestry Commission, as well as enhancing sustainable forest management practices.
The forestry helsman emphasized that implementing sustainable forest management practices would significantly benefit forest bearing communities in line with the ‘People First’ manstra of Governor Bassey Otu’s administration in Cross River State.
O’ben-Etchi also intimated the CG that Cross River State values forest as vital ecosystems and calls for collaboration to safeguard and sustainably manage the forest for future generations.
The Conservator-General enthusiastically welcomed Dr. O’ben-Etchi’s appointment as Chairman of the Cross River State Forestry Commission, highlighting his extensive experience with organizations like the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) and Okwangwo National Park. He emphasized Dr. O’ben-Etchi’s potential to bring positive change to the forestry sector and reiterated the park’s commitment to supporting the training of newly recruited forest rangers under the Commission’s purview.
He used the event to establish and reinforce relationships and partnerships, both new and existing, beneficial for both the service and the state, particularly in their endeavor to sustainably manage the forest and its resources.