Begin The Real Voyage Of Discovery Right Now
In the early 1990s, armed with nothing more than an inexpensive Instamatic pocket camera, my trekking companion captured a silhouette of me atop the highest hill we could scale, surrounded by tropical foliage outside the Jos area of Plateau State, Nigeria. Perched at an altitude of approximately 1,300 meters on the Jos Plateau, the summit revealed a sweeping panoramic view that awakened something within me—a growing passion for nature conservation and a deepening appreciation for the environment’s beauty and vulnerability.
The crisp, cool dusk air, untouched by pollution, offered a welcome reprieve and created a rare moment of stillness—feelings that have stayed with me ever since. From that vantage point, the world below seemed distant, yet full of promise, representing the potential of an unspoiled corner of Africa. This experience helped plant the seeds of my early interest in environmental stewardship, a passion that has continued to influence my life and work.
This photo holds even greater significance as it was taken just a few years before I earned a British Council award in 1996 as one of the winners in the “Focus on Our Environment” contest held in Nigeria. Captured against the fading light of dusk, the silhouette of my younger self not only commemorates my early steps into the world of conservation but also embodies the freedom, inspiration, and connection that nature offers. For me, this photograph serves as a powerful reminder of how moments spent in nature can spark a lifelong passion for conservation, sustainable living, and environmental advocacy.