17th May, 2017
Mr Henry Akwitti, President of Ecolife Conservation Initiative, on Wednesday urged the Federal Government to include environmental and climate change studies in the curricular of primary, secondary and tertiary educational institutions.
He gave the advice in an interview with News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja.
Akwitti said that the measure would go a long way to protect the environment from environmental hazards, while creating strategies on how to manage climate issues in the country.
He said that the inclusion of environmental and climate studies in the curricular of educational institutions was an ideal way of integrating environmental topics into academic studies.
“Our climate is rapidly changing with disruptive impacts and the change is progressing faster than any projection; so the idea is to guide the children on how to manage our environment at all times.
“It will also stimulate the academic interest in the environment; it will enhance the social growth of young Nigerians, while promoting conservation of the natural environment.
“Our children and youths can also use this as a means to disseminate information on the dangers and implications of climate change in our society.
“Children are powerful agents of change; children can be extraordinarily resilient in the face of significant challenges.
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“When children are being provided with relevant education on disasters and climate change in school environments, it can reduce their vulnerability to risks and contribute to the sustainable development of their communities.
“Educating children and youths on the dangers of climate change is one of the best ways of strengthening community adaptation to climate change,’’ he said.
Akwitti identified environmental degradation, climate change, species extinction, rising sea levels, excessive or unequal resource consumption and resource depletion as some of the local and global environmental problems.
The ecologist said that the only way these problems could be solved was by incorporating climate change and environmental studies into the school curriculum.
He said that the idea was to motivate students to participate in educating the citizenry on climate change issues in their various neighbourhoods.
Akwitti, however, said that the proposed project would help to promote and spread public awareness of the impact and dangers of climate change in the society.
“The development will as well promote environmental health in the country, ” he added.