WHO WE ARE

The Lekan Bakare Foundation is dedicated to protecting and nurturing Nigeria's and West Africa's coastline and ocean ecosystems, aligning with Sustainable Development Goal 14 (SDG 14): Life Below Water.

This goal emphasises the conservation and sustainable use of oceans, seas, and marine resources, which are critical for our planet’s well-being. By engaging a diverse range of stakeholders, we aim to generate knowledge and develop strategies to support the sustainable growth of Nigeria’s ocean coastline and marine life.

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Ocean And Marine Life protection and development are not common in Nigeria, a country with over 850km of ocean coastline and marine life coverage of over 40,000 KM2 with over 180 species of marine life specific to the Nigerian coast. The ocean is a source of livelihood for many Nigerians, and this is threatened by the adverse effects of climate change. It is paramount that we ensure the protection of the ocean and promote ecosystem growth. 

Our approach at the Lekan Bakare Foundation is multi-faceted, incorporating policy advocacy, sustainable practices, infrastructural development, knowledge management, capacity building, and fostering strategic partnerships. 

Our Impact So Far...

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Communities Reached
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Marine Animals Saved
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Sea Turtles Rescued

Our Mission

To inspire people to consciously exhibit ocean-friendly living through creative projects. Develop and adopt functional innovation and technology through data-driven research, to address gaps in the ocean and marine-related climate change challenges in Nigeria.

Our Vision

Our vision is to maximize the capacity of marine ecosystems and the Blue Economy to boost economic growth while advocating for the sustainable use of ocean resources.

Our Strategy

To implement coastal and marine ecosystem protection and development programs. To support the livelihoods of coastal communities in Nigeria through education about sustainable practices.

Our Areas of Focus

We aim at rejuvenating Nigeria’s Blue Economy by bringing together maritime stakeholders through.

Sustainable Practices

Promoting eco-friendly initiatives and responsible resource management

Knowledge Management & Capacity Building

Empowering communities through knowledge sharing and skill development

Partnership for Development

Building strategic partnerships to drive sustainable development, empower communities

Policy Advocacy

Championing impactful policies and advocating for positive change

Our Theory of Change – SDG 14

When a community’s capacity is built, it ripples to many corners of growth, we believe that building the capacity of everyone directly or indirectly affected by the ocean will drive the interests needed for the protection and development of the Nigerian coastline and marine ecosystem.

We see partnerships for systems development and communication among stakeholders as the sustainable tool for driving a stronger and more conducive ecosystem.

The Team

Aro Lekan Bakare
Chief Ganiyu Olalekan Bakare

Chairman/Founder

Bankole Oloruntoba
Bankole Oloruntoba

Chief Executive Officer

Adeola Chambers

Chief Operations Officer

Esther Babatunde

Senior Programs Manager

Iyiola Suliyat Babalola

Marine Biologist, Research and Development

Victor Okon

Brands/Communications Manager

Jay Ipheghe
Jay Ipheghe

IT Support/Website Manager

Ikechukwu Onyiaokwu

Design Lead

We are open to partnerships

Our partners play an essential part in our progress and impact and are recognized for making significant contributions to the future of our ocean.

Our Amazing Partners