Celebrating a Conservation Icon at 70: Sir Andrew Osa Ehanire
The passion of a conservationist and ecotourism expert is rooted in a deep, often lifelong connection to nature and a commitment to protecting biodiversity for future generations.
Sir Andrew O Ehanire, Managing Director/CEO of Ogba Zoo and Nature Park, Benin City, embodies this passion. A renowned conservationist and ecotourism icon respected across the West Coast of Africa, he represents the South-South region on the Board of Trustees of the Association of Tourism Practitioners of Nigeria (ATPN) and many other professionals bodies in Nigeria.
On behalf of the Africa Blue Economy Roundtable, BRACED Tourism Promotion & Development Initiative, and members of ATPN South-South, I join his family, friends, associates, professional colleagues, and millions of well-wishers to congratulate him on his 70th birthday today, May 2, 2026.
Sir Ehanire has served as a bridge between wildlife protection and community empowerment, ensuring sustainability remains a core value, not a trend, in how he has managed Ogba Zoo and Nature Park for decades.
Driven by a childhood bond with nature, he is passionate about helping others re-establish that connection. He is dedicated to protecting ecosystems from destruction, viewing nature as having intrinsic value beyond extraction.
His work champions community-driven conservation, where local communities benefit from protecting their natural resources and become true guardians of the land. He promotes travel that supports conservation, raising awareness through education so visitors understand biodiversity’s importance while directly funding its protection.
Actively involved in research, conservation, and promoting human-wildlife coexistence, Ehanire sees challenges not as obstacles but as opportunities to learn, often working in harsh conditions for the sake of the environment.
Dr. Piriye Kiyaramo,
Publisher, Blue Economy Newsmagazine, Convener, Africa Blue Economy Roundtable and
National Publicity Secretary, ATPN.
