UBEC, IGEN Seek Climate Education Integration into School Curriculum

Michael Olugbode in Abuja

The Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) and the Institute for Greening Education in Nigeria (IGEN) have called for the integration of climate change education, environmental sustainability and green skills development into Nigeria’s school curriculum to prepare learners for emerging environmental challenges.

The call was made in Abuja on Thursday at a Technical Working Group (TWG) meeting on the Greening Schools and Climate Change Education Intervention (GSCCEI), held in collaboration with IGEN at the UBEC Digital Resource Centre.

The meeting featured the official launch of the State of Greening Education in Nigeria Report and its accompanying policy brief, which provide an evidence-based assessment of the state of environmental sustainability education in the country and propose strategic policy actions for building a climate-ready, green, resilient and future-ready education system.

The publications are expected to provide a framework for strengthening environmental sustainability in the education sector through improved policies, institutional collaboration, teacher development and practical climate action in schools.

Speaking at the event, UBEC Executive Secretary, Mrs Aisha Garba, represented by Dr Lydia Gbagi, reaffirmed the commission’s commitment to transforming Nigerian schools into environmentally responsible, climate-resilient and sustainable learning environments.

Garba said the initiative was designed to equip learners not only with academic knowledge but also with the values, competencies and practical skills required to address emerging environmental challenges.

Providing an update on the intervention, Gbagi disclosed that 33 states, including the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), had benefited from state-level capacity development training.

She explained that the training, conducted through the State Universal Basic Education Boards (SUBEBs), focused on climate change education, integrating environmental sustainability into teaching and learning, establishing Climate Change and Green Champions Clubs, promoting practical greening activities and strengthening monitoring and reporting mechanisms.

According to her, UBEC had also developed implementation guidelines and training materials to support the effective nationwide rollout of the programme.

These include the GSCCEI Implementation Guidelines, the Handbook for Climate Change and Green Champions Clubs, and guidelines for Green Schools and Climate Change Interventions.

She said the National Greening Schools Programme (NGSP) had been developed as a broader framework for advancing environmental sustainability in Nigerian schools, with seven strategic pillars guiding its implementation.

Garba further noted that the capacity development programme had facilitated the emergence of state-level master trainers who would extend the training to local government areas and individual schools.

She said the intervention aligned with the Federal Government’s education reform agenda, the Nigeria Education Sector Renewal Initiative, the Climate Change Act 2021, Nigeria’s Nationally Determined Contributions and UNESCO’s Greening Education Partnership.

Earlier, IGEN Executive Secretary, Unyime Robinson, described the launch of the report and policy brief as a significant milestone in efforts to position education as a strategic tool for addressing climate change, environmental degradation and other sustainability challenges.

Robinson observed that climate change, biodiversity loss and unsustainable consumption were increasingly affecting communities, livelihoods and education systems, making coordinated and sustained interventions necessary.

He stressed that greening education should extend beyond teaching students about climate change to integrating sustainability into education policies, curricula, school infrastructure, institutional management, teacher development and practical skills acquisition.

He explained that IGEN was established to promote environmental sustainability, climate change education and green skills across Nigeria’s education system.

According to him, the newly launched report examines the current state of greening education in the country, identifies progress and implementation gaps, and provides recommendations for strengthening policies, institutional coordination, implementation and accountability.

He emphasised that the impact of the report would ultimately depend on the extent to which its recommendations were translated into practical actions.

Robinson therefore called for stronger collaboration among federal and state governments, education agencies, development partners, civil society organisations, the private sector and other stakeholders to ensure effective implementation.

He also advocated increased investment in teacher training, climate-smart school infrastructure and green skills development to prepare young Nigerians for emerging opportunities in the green economy.

Robinson commended the African Centre for Environment, Agriculture and Rural Development, Green Schools International Foundation, researchers and other partners for their contributions to the development of the report and policy brief.

Both UBEC and IGEN expressed optimism that the publications would provide valuable guidance for ongoing education reforms and strengthen efforts to make environmental sustainability an integral part of Nigeria’s education system.

They urged stakeholders to translate the recommendations into concrete interventions that would position schools as centres of environmental learning, innovation and practical climate action.

The initiative is expected to contribute to raising a generation of environmentally conscious Nigerians equipped with the knowledge, values and skills to support a greener, more resilient and sustainable society.