The National Park Service and Sayari Dunia Sustainable Tourism Foundation, a Non Governmental Organisation has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on sustainable tourism, eco tourism, climate action, green trade, environmental protection and bio- diversity conservation.

This is contained in a statement signed by the founder and chairperson, Abigail Adesina Olagbaye on Friday in Abuja.

According to Olagbaye, the five year- partnership includes areas such as sustainable tourism, eco tourism, sustainability, climate action, green trade, environmental protection, bio- diversity conservation, advocacy, training and capacity building and many others.

She said the foundation is an Africa – focussed and Nigeria based climate action and sustainable tourism foundation operating at the intersection of tourism, trade and sustainability.

“Of particular importance is the impact and opportunities this partnership will create for youths, women, communities and MSMEs.

“The National Park Service manages the 17 national parks in Nigeria. Some of which includes Gashaka Gumpti National Park, Old Oyo National Park, Kainji Lake National Park, Kamuku National Park, Okomu National Park etc.

“The partnership comes into effect immediately as Sayari Dunia Sustainable Tourism Foundation unveils some of its advocacy and programmes for Nigeria and Africa.

“The foundation re- affirms its commitment to impactful partnerships with strategic public and private actors, development partners, institutions, civil society, policymakers, stakeholders, communities, industry, etc.

“It aligns its programmes in support of the implementation of global and continental treaties, agreements and frameworks that scale, develop, promote, enhance protection and sustain tourism development in Nigeria and Africa,” she said.

She further explained that some of the global treaties, agreements and frameworks include the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), the Kyoto Protocol, Paris Agreement, Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction UNDRR,

She said others are UN Sustainable Development Goals, UNWTO Glasgow Declaration on Climate Action in Tourism, Africa Continental Free Trade Agreement, AfDB Climate Change and Green Growth Strategic Framework among others. (NAN)