Experts seek new curriculum to promote environmental education in schools

Experts have urged reforms in Nigeria’s school curricula to embed environmental sustainability knowledge and drive eco-friendly practices among students.

They made the call at the Green School Activation Summit organised by the Advance Initiative for International Development (AIIDEV) at the Centre for Sustainable Development (CEDEV), University of Ibadan, Oyo State.

The summit also featured the launch of the Green School Activation Programme, a pioneering initiative designed to integrate green education and whole-school sustainability practices into secondary schools in Nigeria and across Africa.

Currently piloted in the Federal Capital Territory, Lagos, and Oyo State, the programme has so far engaged more than 100 schools and 300 teachers. It adopts a whole-school approach that promotes green learning environments, food security through school gardening, climate education, eco-friendly infrastructure, innovation, and circular economy principles.

Delivering the keynote on “Promoting Green Education and Whole School Approach in Nigeria,” the Dean, Faculty of Renewable Natural Resources, University of Ibadan, Prof. Adejoke Akinyele, lamented Nigeria’s worsening environmental crises, including rapid deforestation, pollution, and climate change. She described education as key to cultivating environmentally conscious citizens.

“Green education integrates environmental, economic, and social sustainability into the core of learning,” Akinyele said. She identified the Whole-School-Approach model, covering curriculum reform, eco-friendly facilities, school culture transformation, community engagement, and behavioural change, as effective for embedding sustainability in the education system.

The initiative, she added, aligns with UNICEF’s Green School Programme by encouraging schools to create green spaces, build resilient infrastructure, and champion student-led climate actions. She recommended eco-clubs, tree planting, waste management systems, and renewable energy adoption as practical steps schools can take.

Regional Lead of AIIDEV Africa, Emmanuel Ola-Olowoyo, said the organisation was committed to driving a national movement for green education. “We are providing seeds, resources, and expert-led training for teachers. Each school should designate at least two agriculture teachers to lead sustainability efforts. We plan to monitor progress through annual reports and introduce competitions for the most eco-active schools,” he added.

Other speakers demonstrated practical approaches. Founder of the Waste Museum, Ibadan, Mrs Adejumoke Olowokere, highlighted ways schools can turn food waste into compost and use recycled materials like Trawap as teaching aids.

Executive Director of Plogging Nigeria, Mr Mayokun Iyaomolere, urged schools to begin with small steps, conduct sustainability audits, and prioritise healthier, eco-friendly teaching environments.

Founding Director of the Centre for Housing and Sustainable Development, University of Lagos, Prof. Timothy Nubi, emphasised the role of green education in addressing Nigeria’s environmental challenges, while National Focal Point of the Greening Education Partnership, Rahman Mogaj, unveiled the National Network of Accredited Green Schools, a certification framework to reward sustainable schools and connect them with resources and global collaborations.

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