Written by: Mariam Idris
In a significant step towards climate education reform, Climate and Sustainable Development Network (CSDevNet) convened over 50 key stakeholders for a national consultative workshop aimed at integrating climate justice into the Nigerian secondary school curriculum on June 26, 2025.
The event, held in Abuja under the theme “Integrating Climate Justice into the Secondary School Curriculum,” brought together educators, policymakers, civil society actors, and climate advocates to discuss practical pathways for embedding climate justice into formal education.
Dr. Sam Ogallah, CSDevNet Board member, delivered a keynote address emphasizing the urgent need to equip Nigeria’s youth with the tools to understand and respond to climate challenges from a justice-centered perspective.
“Climate justice is rooted in the principle that the impacts of climate change are disproportionately felt by marginalized communities those who have contributed the least to global emissions but suffer the most,” Dr. Sam Ogallah stated. “In many African countries, including Nigeria, climate change directly threatens livelihoods, particularly in climate-sensitive sectors like agriculture.”
He underscored the importance of transforming the education system to not only teach climate science, but also foster leadership, resilience, and ethical responsibility among students.
“Integrating climate justice into the curriculum will empower our youth with critical knowledge and innovative skills,” he said. “Geography lessons can highlight local ecosystems and their vulnerabilities, while creative arts can be a platform to envision sustainable futures.”
Dr. Sam Ogallah also proposed that educational materials include real-world case studies from Nigerian communities impacted by droughts, floods, and desertification, allowing students to connect abstract concepts with lived experiences.
Participants at the workshop echoed the call for a holistic and context-specific curriculum that prepares students to be agents of change in their communities. Stakeholders emphasized the need for collaboration between federal and state education authorities, curriculum developers, and grassroots organizations to ensure successful implementation.
CSDevNet’s immediate past National Network Coordinator Mr Atayi Babs, said the initiative aimed to build the next generation of climate justice advocates through early engagement.
“To ensure sustainable activism, we must carry the next generation along. Involving children is the most effective succession plan,” he said.
He noted that this initiative is part of the Network’s broader commitment to climate resilience and sustainable development through inclusive education and policy advocacy.
He added that introducing climate justice into school curricula would deepen advocacy, particularly because Nigeria is one of the countries most affected by climate change.
Dr Jimoh Yusuf, representing the Dean of Environmental Faculty of the University of Abuja in his goodwill message spoke on the consistent nature of climate change as it’s a menace that is not stopping now or later, therefore, we need proactive and aggressive steps to address it. Speaking on the timely nature of the event of the day, he emphasized the importance of practical need to position students and the young ones on the fight for climate change.
Dr Onuche Unekwu, Senior Lecturer at the University of Africa, Toru-Orua, Bayelsa State, outlined the workshop as a timely step to sensitize secondary school students on the implications of climate change and how to mitigate its effects.
The consultative workshop concluded with a communique to support school module and curricula development as a collective call to action for policymakers and education authorities to prioritize climate justice education as a national imperative, aligning with Nigeria’s commitments to the Paris Agreement and the Sustainable Development Goals.
Some of the recommendation includes:
- More advocacy for progressive, student-centered pedagogies like inquiry-based learning, project-based learning, role-playing, multimedia, case studies, and outdoor activities to foster critical thinking and action-oriented skills.
- Educational authorities, including the Nigerian Educational Research and Development Council (NERDC) and the Federal Ministry of Education, should adopt an interdisciplinary approach to embed climate justice across subjects such as Civic Education (JSS) and Geography (SSS). This framework should incorporate local case studies, Indigenous knowledge, and practical activities like tree planting and climate justice fairs.
- Schools should establish “Climate Justice Clubs” with action grants, to encourage student-led initiatives like community radio programs and sustainability projects.
- Integration of interdisciplinary approach across science, social studies, geography, and arts.
- Specific and clear outlined curriculum structures for Junior Secondary School (JSS) under Civic Education and Senior Secondary School (SSS) under Geography.
- reinforcement of strategic implementation framework, emphasizing alignment with SDG 4 (Quality Education) and SDG 13 (Climate Action) to address educational exclusion, particularly for girls.
- More development of climate change materials in local languages to enhance communication and leverage Indigenous solutions.
- Invest in teacher training and retraining programs, to build interdisciplinary climate literacy. Workshops and inclusion of climate justice in General Studies (GST) courses should be supported by government and NGO partnerships to equip educators with necessary tools and knowledge.
