The renowned environmentalist and businessman, Dr Newton Jibunoh clocks age 85 on January 1, having been born in 1938.
To mark the date, the former Managing Director of Costain West Africa, known famously as the Dessert Warrior, will be rededicating his life to the one cause he has been known for since about his middle age: Campaign for the Preservation of the Environment.
With the theme, Dr Newton Jibunoh 85th Birthday, Celebrating a Life of Art and Nature, the event is designed around Tree Planting activities and celebration of the environment at the Nelson Mandela Gardens which he founded and superintends as chairman.
The garden is located in the premises of the Asaba International Airport in Asaba, Delta State.
The event kicking off at 4 p.m. is expected to be graced by eminent Nigerians from home and abroad, but strictly by invitation.
Born January 1, 1938, Dr Newton Jibunoh is the founder of Nigeria’s foremost environmental non-governmental organisation, Fight Against Desert Encroachment, FADE.
He is also the chairman of Nelson Mandela Gardens, a conservation resort in Asaba, Delta State.
He was also Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Costain (West Africa) Plc, and later became the chairman until he retired in 2006.
His moniker as a Desert Warrior came as a result of his numerous desert exploration.
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 in the company of 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.
He also writes weekly as a columnist for the Sun newspaper, focusing on issues affecting the nation and the environment – Two things he loves dearly.
