Oyo State Trains Teachers in Climate Literacy

The Oyo State Government in Nigeria launched a Climate Literacy and Awareness Programme, training over 300 teachers to integrate environmental education into schools. The initiative, a partnership between the state’s Ministry of Education, Global Impact Sustainable Development Enterprise, the University of the West of England, Bristol, and the Carbon Literacy Project, aims to equip educators with knowledge of climate change and sustainability.

Officials emphasized teachers’ crucial role in shaping young people’s attitudes and behaviors regarding environmental issues, even without a dedicated climate literacy subject. The program addresses threats beyond flooding, including heatwaves, land degradation, and food insecurity, and seeks to reduce the impact of extreme weather through education and responsible practices.

The state government is also strengthening environmental regulation enforcement and rewarding citizens who report violations. This program is part of a larger five-year plan to train 7,000 learners across Africa by 2030, with Oyo State being the first Nigerian state to participate.