Who we are
Founded in 1987, the Nigerian Environmental Study/Action Team (NEST) is a not-for-profit, membership, non-governmental organization, with headquarters in Ibadan, Nigeria.  Its primary focus is on the environment and sustainable development, to which it is dedicated to providing advocacy and  raising public awareness. Its policies and programmes are formulated and coordinated primarily by a Board of Directors, while its day-to-day management and activities are overseen by an Executive Director. A Board of Trustees provides general guidance to the organization.

NEST became registered in 1989 with the Corporate Affairs Commission of Nigeria, under the Land (perpetual succession) Act (cap 98). with Registration Number 5185.

NEST arose out of the observation that the past decades had witnessed numerous negative impacts of human activities on the environment, the adverse effects of such degraded environments on Nigerians, linking environmental degradation tightly to poverty, and the uncomfortable adjustments that many people have had to make in the attempt to survive. Among the many environmental stresses in the country are those brought about by deforestation, soil erosion, desertification, air and water pollution, water scarcity, floods, urban solid wastes, industrial pollution especially from petroleum production and use, loss of biodiversity, energy crises and general resources degradation, which impact most adversely on disadvantaged groups, particularly the poor, women and children. NEST has the view that limited knowledge and awareness, weak policies and institutional framework, as well as inappropriate allocation of resources underlie these environmental stresses

• Rationale

  • Essentially, NEST is a non-governmental organization, dedicated to improving the ways by which we interact with the environment.   NEST is determined to become increasingly self-supporting, though maintaining a compact and efficient organizational profile, with a highly professional and well ­motivated staff conscious of the need to generate income while remaining prudent in resource use.

  • The motivation for the establishment of NEST is deeply rooted in the paradox of 'a natural resources blessed continent wallowing in bewilderment in the throes of poverty and want', especially in the last three decades, to the extent that disturbing pictures of hunger stricken Africans were being flashed on television screens.  Global attention may temporarily shift to areas of current conflicts, but the situation of famine and hunger, drought and desertification, water and wind erosion, and ecologically insensitive exploitation of renewable and non-renewable natural resources persist in Africa.  So, NEST's founding rationale remains largely unaltered

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• Mandate

  • The mandate of NEST is limited to matters related to the environment and sustainable development, primarily in Nigeria but with general global interest. It specifically includes (a) participating in and promoting research and publications on the environment and sustainable development, (b) striving to influence policy to secure the sustainable use of environmental resources, (c) raising public awareness of environmental and sustainable development issues, and (d) supporting popular action on the environment.
     

• Mission

  • The mission of NEST is to empower people at all social and economic levels for sustainable interaction with the environment

• Goal

  • As a membership organization, NEST has the overall goal of acting in concert with an active nationwide membership to sensitize and empower Nigerians on issues of the environment and sustainable development, through the dissemination of factual information, training for skills acquisition and promotion of sustainable livelihoods.

• Objectives

  • NEST hopes to realize its mission and goal through the following operational objectives:

    • Conducting and promoting research into all areas of human interaction with the environment.
    • Placing at the disposal of all stakeholders appropriate information and perspectives on the status of the Nigerian environment.
    • Stimulating debate and intensifying awareness on the consequences of human actions on the environment.
    • Sensitizing policy makers on the need to pursue sustainable development.
    • Facilitating the development of sustainable livelihoods at the grassroots through enterprise systems.
    • Addressing peculiar environmental issues that affect disadvantaged groups, particularly women and children.
    • Networking and collaborating with other organizations, local or international, involved in environment and sustainable development issues.
    • Pursuing any other activities that will facilitate the attainment of the mission of the organization.