By Danjuma Amodu
Dr Ibrahim Goni Conservator-General, National Park Service (NPS), has urged newly promoted officers to translate their new ranks into greater performance.
Goni gave the charge during the formal decoration of officers who successfully completed the 2025 Senior Staff Promotion Exercise in Abuja on Monday.
He said Nigeria’s national parks faced serious challenges, including poaching, illegal logging, encroachment and insecurity, which require officers to strengthen efforts towards protecting natural resources.
“Our parks face serious challenges. Nigerians are looking up to us to secure and preserve them for ecotourism, research and posterity,” Goni said.
He said the promotion was recognition of hard work, integrity, dedication and sacrifice, adding that officers were assessed based on merit, character, leadership and contributions.
Goni said the ceremony was historic, saying that Okea Michael Conservator of Park became the first officer from the South-East geopolitical zone to attain AC-G.
He said Michael’s promotion demonstrated the Service’s commitment to equity, federal character and merit, adding that his achievement would inspire young officers across the country.
The conservator-general also decorated Conservator of Park Maria Mamman, who became the first female officer in the Service to attain the rank of Assistant Conservator-General (AC-G).
Goni described Mamman’s achievement as evidence of diligence, professionalism and commitment, adding that she had become a role model for female officers.
He charged both newly promoted Assistant Conservator-Generals to embrace greater responsibilities, noting that their new rank placed them among top management shaping the Service’s future.
The c-g also decorated five officers promoted to Conservator of Park (CP), describing the rank as a gateway to senior management with significant field and administrative responsibilities.
Goni reminded all newly promoted officers that promotion represented a call to higher responsibility, requiring greater discipline, sacrifice, loyalty and commitment to national service.
He urged them to lead by example, remain disciplined and incorruptible, mentor their subordinates, and build a new generation of competent conservation leaders.
The NPS boss also encouraged the officers to embrace innovation in park protection and management, particularly to address emerging threats confronting protected areas nationwide.
He commended the families of the promoted officers for their support and sacrifices, and urged them to continue encouraging the officers in their national assignments.
Goni commended all the newly decorated officers and expressed optimism that their new ranks would bring honour and contribute to progress within the National Park Service.
