The Oyo State Government has launched a Climate Literacy and Awareness Programme that will train more than 300 teachers to promote environmental education and climate action in schools across the state.
The initiative is being implemented by the Global Impact Sustainable Development Enterprise (GISDEVE) in collaboration with the Oyo State Ministry of Education, the University of the West of England, Bristol, and the Carbon Literacy Project.
Speaking at the programme’s inauguration in Ibadan on Tuesday, the Commissioner for Environment and Natural Resources, Ademola Aderinto, said teachers are well-positioned to influence children’s attitudes and behaviour, making them key drivers of climate awareness.
He noted that although climate literacy has not yet been introduced as a standalone school subject, teachers can integrate environmental education into classroom lessons and everyday interactions with students.
Aderinto described climate change as a growing challenge that extends beyond flooding, citing heatwaves, land degradation, irregular weather patterns and food insecurity as major concerns requiring increased public awareness.
He stressed that while extreme weather events cannot always be prevented, their impact can be reduced through public education, responsible environmental practices and effective government policies.
The commissioner also urged residents to stop dumping refuse into drainage channels, warning that such practices undermine government investments in flood control infrastructure.
According to him, the state has strengthened collaboration with the Oyo State Rule of Law Enforcement Authority and other relevant agencies to enforce environmental regulations. He added that a whistleblower system has also been introduced to encourage residents to report environmental offences, with stricter enforcement measures expected soon.
Also speaking, the Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Olusegun Olayiwola, represented by the ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Toyin Oyinloye, described the programme as an investment in both education and environmental sustainability.
She reaffirmed the ministry’s commitment to working with local and international organisations to improve teachers’ capacity and encouraged participants to apply the knowledge gained in their classrooms and communities.
Earlier, the Chief Sustainability Officer of GISDEVE, Lulu Akindele, said Oyo became the first state in Nigeria to adopt the climate literacy initiative after demonstrating strong support for the project.
He explained that the programme is part of a five-year Africa-wide initiative aimed at training 7,000 people by 2030 on climate change, sustainability and environmental responsibility.
Akindele added that participants who complete the training and develop individual and group climate action plans will receive internationally recognised Carbon Literacy certificates issued by the United Kingdom-based Carbon Literacy Project.
He said the training would be delivered in four cohorts of 75 participants each over eight days at different locations in Ibadan.
The Special Adviser to Governor Seyi Makinde on Intervention and Donor Funding, Aderonke Adedayo, said the initiative reflects the state’s commitment to attracting donor funding and international partnerships to support sustainable development.
She noted that her office continues to seek grants and technical assistance from development partners, universities, multilateral organisations and foreign governments to complement state resources.
Adedayo urged teachers to apply practical environmental solutions in their schools and communities, adding that improved public understanding of climate change would encourage responsible environmental behaviour.
One of the participants, the Local Inspector of Education for Ona Ara Local Government, Rotimi Omotosho, described the training as timely and beneficial, expressing optimism about its impact on schools and communities.
