Award-winning musician, Davido whose real name is David Adeleke knows how to impress at every occasion. The star musician recently eagerly and warmly extended a hand of fellowship to a pangolin by joining other prominent personalities to play with the endangered wild animal.
It was during the official launch of the WildAid awareness campaign against wildlife crimes in Nigeria on January 6, 2022 at Lekki, Lagos State.
WildAid is a non-profit organisation with the mission to end the illegal wildlife trade in our “lifestime”.
Shortly after the major activity has been held, Davido, Actress Stephanie Linus, Miss Tourism Nigeria, Mercy Odjugo, Comedian Emmanuella, DG NESREA, Prof. Aliyu Jauro, WildAid President Peter knights and other dignitaries were taken for a photo session where a young pangolin was brought.
The celebrities are all WildAid ambassadors in the campaign against wildlife crimes in Nigeria.
It was quite a dramatic moment as some of the dignitaries including Emmanuella got frightened by the innocent animal; but Davido was among those that stood firm to receive and played with the animal.
Wearing a fine white shirt on a pair of black trousers with designs, as well as faze cap, Davido allowed the animal hang on him at the admiration of fans.
He had made a case for wild species while delivering his remark. According to him, ” In my childhood, we would go to the zoos. It was interesting. I am very excited to be part of the campaign”, Davido said.
On her part, actress Stephanie Linus who was among earliest celebrities unveiled as WildAid ambassadors stated that she was “personally excited to be a part of this campaign”.
The actress believed strongly that if efficiently conserved, wildlife would contribute immensely to the nation’s economy. She said “I have seen wildlife tourism transform economies. I believed that it will get to that level in Nigeria”.
Emmanuella also passionately appealed to all her fans and the general public to desist from patronising illegal bushmeat.The comedian who will turn 12 by July 22 noted that “i am very delighted to be here. When i came, i was glad to see a pangolin. Please, lets work together to keep them safe, so that our generation will see them in the wild”.
To Miss Tourism Nigeria, Mercy Odjugo, “I am happy to be a part of this campaign. Wildlife actually promotes tourism because a lot of people will like to come to see those animals and it not good that we are killing them , using them for bushmeat”, remarked the beauty queen”.
Nigeria has been tagged a “hot spot” for all manners of wildlife crimes including poaching, trafficking and consumption of wildlife species as BushMeat which analysts say necessites aggressive campaign to curb.
According to WildAid, ” Nigeria was once home to rhinos, giraffes and cheetahs, but sadly due to habitat destruction and poaching, they have become extinct. But all hope isn’t lost as Nigeria still has iconic wildlife species such as lions, elephants, Cross River gorillas and Nigeria-Cameroon chimpanzees”.
