Comr. Lily-white O. Esigbone, 3rd Vice President on Environment, Ugbarajo Itsekiri Youths paid a familiarisation visit to Falcorp Mangrove park ijala warri, Delta State

Ijala, Warri – September 12, 2025

The 3rd Vice President on Environmental Matters of the Ugbarajo Itsekiri Youths (U.I.Y), Comr. Lily-white O. Esigbone, on Friday, paid a familiarisation visit to the Falcorp Mangrove Park, Nigerian’s foremost one-stop Mangrove Conservation Facility popularly known as Zoo, in Ijala, Warri, Delta State.

The visit was undertaken with the full support of the U.I.Y leadership. The President, Comr. Joseph Okotie was ably represented by the 1st Vice President, Mrs. Tsaye Edeyibo Mene (Warri South), alongside the 4th Vice President, Comr. Asin Blessing (Warri South-West), Secretary-General Comr. Jolomi Jakpah, Director of Mobilization Comr. Odemi Agbeyegbe, and Director of Women Affairs, Comr. Alero Olugbo, among other notable Itsekiri youths.

Receiving the delegation, the Curator of the Park, Mr. Okotie Jonathan took the youths on a guided tour, highlighting the ecological and health benefits of mangrove forests and stressing the importance of environmental preservation of the fast depleting Warri Kingdom mangrove ecosystems and other heritage sites. He also explained the distinctions between rainforests and mangrove ecosystems.

The youths were further shown the Park ’s Hall of Fame, which houses priceless artifacts and relics of Itsekiri history, including the 1950 osmobile of Ogiame Erejuwa II, a wire nail and office pins producing machines as well as a historic laterite brick-making machine. The tour also included the Park ’s walkways into the mangrove forest and its natural ponds.
The group made a stopover at the over 500 years old Warri Kingdom Royal Cemetery. The cemetery is amongst Nigeria’s listed State and National Monuments Sites, a feat accompanied by our late erudite history, Pa.J.O.S Ayomike and Mr. Henry A.Erikowa.
Describing the experience as an eye-opener, Comr. Lily-white O. Esigbone pledged to work closely with the Park’s management and that of Warri Kingdom Conservation Management Committee to promote environmental and heritage preservation education across Warri Kingdom.