Dr. Newton Jibunoh at 85: Leading Environmentalist Rededicates Life

Illustrious Nigerian environmentalist, art patron, and businessman, Dr. Newton Jibunoh is rededicating his life to the cause of Life, Art, and Nature as he clocks 85 on New Year’s Day.

Born January 1^st, 1938, the renowned environmentalist and former Managing Director of Costain West Africa, known famously as the Dessert Warrior, will be rededicating his life to the cause he has been known for since about his middle age: Campaign for the Preservation of the Environment.

According to his publicists, Dr. Jibunoh’s new milestone will be marked with an event designed around Tree Planting activities and a celebration of the environment at the Nelson Mandela Gardens which he founded and superintends as Chairman. The garden is on the premises of the Asaba International Airport in Asaba, Delta State.

The event with the theme ‘Dr. Newton Jibunoh’s 85th Birthday, Celebrating a LIFE of ART & NATURE’ will kick off at 4 pm with eminent Nigerians in attendance.

Dr. Newton Jibunoh is the Founder of Nigeria’s foremost environmental non-governmental organization, Fight against Desert Encroachment (FADE). He is also the Chairman of Nelson Mandela Gardens, a conservation resort in Asaba, Delta State.

He was Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Costain (West Africa) Plc, and he later became the Chairman until he retired in 2006.

His moniker as a Desert warrior came because of his numerous desert explorations. Dr. Jibunoh has crossed the Sahara Desert (driving from London to Lagos, and Lagos to London) three times. He embarked upon two solo expeditions in 1966 and 2000. The third expedition in 2008 was with five other desert warriors.

In 2011, Dr. Jibunoh partnered with the Lagos State Government to establish the first ever Green Reality TV Show called, “Dr. Newton Jibunoh’s Desert Warriors Reality Show”. The reality show held in the Agadez region of Niger was a desert boot camp environmental protection reality show designed to teach 15 young men and women about processes in managing desert lands and resources, advocacy, and community outreach.

His passion for the environment led to the birth of FADE Africa in 2000, an NGO focused on combating desertification and its fall-outs such as climate change, poverty, migration, and conflict. 

Dr. Jibunoh is an internationally acclaimed speaker and has represented Nigeria in several Climate Change summits and conferences such as Bangkok, Copenhagen, and Cancun.

A lover of Arts, Dr. Jibunoh is the Founder of DIDI Museum, Nigeria’s first private museum established on May 13, 1983. In addition to housing his numerous collections for preservation, the museum offers avenues for the exhibition and promotion of contemporary arts in Africa.

His latest project is Nelson Mandela Gardens, a multipurpose resort located within Asaba International Airport and boasts of various recreational and lodging amenities.

“This man of many talents has authored many books and publications amongst which are ‘Me, My Desert and I’, an account of his sojourn and near-death experiences while crossing the Sahara the second time; ‘Bridging the Sahara Desert: A Different Perspective’ – a proposed solution to open up the Sahara Desert by the construction of a Trans-Saharan Highway which will also tackle the issue of desertification; ‘Hunger for Power’ – his autobiography and his latest release is “How little we are: A collection of thoughts” – a compilation of a number of his writings on the country and environment into an easy to read format,” the publicists told NewsmakersNG.

Dr. Jibunoh also writes weekly as a columnist for the Sun Newspaper, focusing on issues affecting the nation and the environment. Two things he loves dearly.

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