A Nigerian researcher and PhD candidate on the Missouri Faculty of Journalism, Damilola Oduolowu, has been awarded a prestigious Pulitzer Centre provide to analyze the escalating shatter of mangroves in Lagos Surrounding.
In keeping with him, the undertaking seeks to lift consciousness about an environmental situation that has been in large part unnoticed in spite of its far-reaching aftereffects at the order.
“Mangroves are some of the international’s maximum necessary marine ecosystems, offering coverage in opposition to overpouring, supporting biodiversity, and maintaining livelihoods.
“Yet, in Lagos, these ecosystems are being destroyed at an alarming rate,” Oduolowu mentioned.
Oduolowu lately returned to Lagos from america to start his garden analysis, visiting coastal communities and interviewing citizens whose lives are deeply suffering from mangrove depletion.
In keeping with estimates, Lagos has misplaced between 50% and 70% of its mangroves for the reason that Sixties. This shatter endangers marine day, erodes the herbal limitations in opposition to environment alternate, and jeopardizes the livelihoods of native populations reliant on those ecosystems.
Oduolowu stated the Pulitzer Centre provide is a part of its international initiative to backup tasks addressing important however underreported problems comparable to environment alternate, including that his plan was once to worth the provide to file the human and environmental toll of mangrove loss and spark conversations about sustainable answers.
“This provide permits me to inform tales that topic—tales of ways susceptible communities in Lagos are struggling with the double blackmail of environment alternate and environmental disgrace.
“Through partnerships with several media platforms, I aim to ensure these voices are heard,” he stated.
Oduolowu’s skilled background amplifies the utility of his paintings.
Ahead of pursuing his PhD, he spent over a decade as a multimedia journalist, together with a job as a Senior Journalist on the BBC International Carrier.
His experience spans tv, radio, and virtual platforms, with a profession dedicated to uncovering underreported problems and galvanizing significant alternate.
Through combining educational rigour with environmental journalism, Oduolowu stated his undertaking would spotlight the tragic aftereffects of mangrove shatter presen inspiring environmental justice.
He famous that his paintings exemplifies the facility of storytelling to confront international demanding situations, providing hope for sustainable answers in Lagos and past.