The Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) and the Institute for Greening Education in Nigeria (IGEN) have urged the immediate integration of climate change education, environmental sustainability, and green skills development into the nation’s curriculum to better prepare young people for environmental challenges.
The institutions made the call in Abuja during the Technical Working Group Meeting on the Greening Schools and Climate Change Education Intervention (GSCCEI), which also marked the launch of the *State of Greening Education in Nigeria Report and Policy Brief*.
Speaking at the event, Dr. Lydia Gbagi, Deputy Director of Academic Services at UBEC—representing Department Director Mrs. Blessing Obinatu—revealed that 33 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) have already benefited from capacity development and step-down training via State Universal Basic Education Boards (SUBEBs).
The initiative has supported the establishment of Climate Change and Green Champions Clubs, trained master trainers, and introduced comprehensive implementation guidelines and handbooks across participating states.
IGEN representatives emphasised that educational institutions must evolve into centres of environmental responsibility and climate awareness, ensuring that students acquire practical green skills suited for emerging opportunities within the green economy. Both agencies stressed that sustained collaboration between government bodies, development partners, and civil society is vital to securing a sustainable future for Nigerian youth.
