18-year-old Tariq Lawal-Onibipo has emerged winner of the United Nations Office on Drug and Crime (UNODC) maiden edition of #BeWildForNature sensitisation campaign contest for young Nigerians.
At an award ceremony, on May 1, 2024, in Abuja, Tariq defeated ten (10) selected finalists to clinch the first prize of a laptop.
Tariq Lawal-Onibipo designed an application known as ‘One Stop Shop for Everything Wildlife’ to win the first position. Emmanuel Samuel-Labo and Bello Imoudu-Ameen came in second and third positions, respectively.
The contest seeks to encourage the protection of endangered wildlife species through digital innovation awareness among young people, as part of activities to commemorate World Wildlife Day, which focused on exploring digital innovation in wildlife conservation.
Deputy Representative and Head of Transnational Organised Crime Unit, UNODC, Danilo Campisi, said that the contest is part of sensitisation and awareness creation, which is a key strategic objective of the National Strategy to Combat Wildlife and Forest Crime in Nigeria.
He said that UNODC championed digital sensitisation competitions and campaigns, targeting youths between the ages of 18 and 35 to encourage the use of digital innovation and tools to increase wildlife awareness in Nigeria.
In the words of Danilo Campisi:
“The activities of poachers and illegal groups, which are adversely exploiting this rich biodiversity, have put some of the species at risk of extinction, and this affects all.”
