Written by Idowu Adekunle Olukayode, Global Schools Advocate in Nigeria
As part of my engagement for the National Action Day for Climate Education on the 13th of October 2021, I paid an advocacy visit to the Ministry of Education and Human Capital Development. This visit was made on behalf of the Eleven Eleven Twelve Foundation alongside the World's Largest Lesson Nigeria Kwara State Chapter, led by Akinsola Kehinde Jerry, Global Schools Mentor Advocate. Our team was received by the Director of Finance and Supply, Mr. M.M Abdullahi, with the Ministry Press Secretary, Mr. Kamaldeen.
We informed the officials of the need to include #climatechange into the Nigerian school curriculum. We also told them of the ongoing World's Largest Lesson Climate Changemakers Workshop in six (6) states, Kwara State inclusive. We explained that Kwara State uses public schools for their workshops, while other states pick private schools. We solicited support for the workshops from the Ministry, and we still await an approval letter for the commencement of the workshop.
The Ministry was delighted with the initiative and promised to give their support to achieving the exercise. The Ministry suggested the inclusion of communities in remote areas of the state, like Baruteen in Kwara North, for the Climate Changemakers Workshop. The director emphasized that tangible change on school curriculum can be done only by the Federal Ministry of Education through relevant agencies, just as in the case of Civic Education. He said states are not allowed to make their own Education Policy.
There is no greater tool to change the world than Education. As Nigeria continues to face the dire impacts of climate change, its young people need to have the knowledge and be empowered to tackle climate issues. We hope that the National Action Day for Climate Education will ignite this flame.
Climate Education at this time is a MUST for all.
