Point of no return! Repeatedly rent the balmy air that Friday morning, as I alighted from the tricycle, I had journeyed in to the Jetty at Badagry Marina, Lagos State, South West, Nigeria. My nerves! They were almost frayed, due to the discomfiture of the usually Lagos gridlock. But relief! Overtook my being, immediately a glance at my timepiece revealed, it was just a quater past the ninth hour. I spuriously looked around and quickly identified the voices that were waltzing through the new calmness. They were those of the motorboat drivers and their cronies. Whom were feverishy occupied with jostling for would-be passengers, to make for the anticipated trips. Consequently, I trudgingly got onboard, in adherence to the beckon of one motorboat drivers. Paid my fare and relaxed to sail to my purposive destination. Alas,it suddenly flashed my stream of consciousness that the day was indeed, St Valentine's day! Ironically, love was underwhelmingly looming the atmosphere this Two Thousand and Twenty! Anyway, the motorboat eventually departed the embarkment point at the peninsula and sailed across to Gberefu Island! A tropical rainforest that is geographically sandwiched between Lagos,Nigeria and Seme Border, Benin Republic. And also, faces the imposing Atlantic Ocean. As we steadily approached the disembarkment point. I began to ruminate about my mission to this coastal town. The Point of No Return! As it is otherwise referred to on account of the town's past unscrupulous role as a major port and slave trade route, in the chronicled history of Nigeria's slave trade era. What else appeals essentially in Gberefu Island? Nothing other than coconut! Botanically, nomenclatured as COCOS NUCIFERA! The marvellous tree that is at times tagged the TREE OF LIFE! Because it is arguably the most useful single tree on planet Earth! In terms of its versatility, product utilization and longentivity. Ranging from the husk, shell, flesh, water,leaves,heart,spathe and infloresence,trunks plus even the roots. The factualities of these obvious crucialities can never be undermined. Thus, these positives and my ecotourism enthusiasm poised me with spirited reasons to navigate to COCONUT ISLAND! Which was in real essence, to propagate my advocacy of the massive planting and protection of this drupe. That is a fruit, a nut and seed in one, to the inhabitants of the community. Coconut! Undoubtedly holds a key significance to the laid-back locals of Gberefu Island! In fact, they virtually live and breathe, coconut! Of course, former times record it that this affinity dates back to the mid-nineteenth century. When the first coconut plantation was established by the then Portuguese missionaries. And ever since, the drupe has been synonymous with the community. The motorboat finally berthed on the lagoon's shore after a soothing ride. And I smartly disembarked to attend to my business of being in town. Armed with a public address system,posters and handbills. Regardless of the overt awe of the stretch of coconut trees that magnificiently sprawl the whole territory and dominantly constitute the majority of the town's biodiversity. I pinpointedly perambulated under the coconut canopies to discuss with some of the locals. Whom were definitely involved in any of harvesting,dehusking,processing or refining of coconuts. I meaningfully engaged them in conversations about the economical and environmental downsides of felling these trees without adequate replacement. And equally brainstormed about the likely panacea for these ill practices with them. After lots of famillarization,sensitization and education. I indulged in snapshots with a cross section of the locals. And afterwards,relished some local coconut delicacies as lunch. To spice up my visit to this delimited zone, I patronised a local souvenir shop for some products made from coconuts. Before I emotionally bade farewell to my newfound friends. When it occurred to me that the sun was inevitably setting. As I sailed out of Gberefu Island that evening. I heartily grinned from ear to ear with a sense of fulfilment. When it struck me definitively that the COCO in the coconut! Literally means LAUGHING FACE! In Portuguese!