“We can’t afford to wait any longer.” That was the urgent message delivered by Nnimmo Bassey, renowned environmentalist and director of the Health of Mother Earth Foundation, during a major forum held in Abuja. His words were not just a critique, they were a stark warning to a nation on the brink of environmental disaster. Bassey cut through the political silence and denial to shine a light on a crisis that affects millions, yet remains dangerously under- reported and under-addressed.
Was Nnimmo Bassey saying the obvious truth? Can we actually afford to wait much longer? Do we still have time in our hands? I leave the answer to you, but statistics do not lie. Nigeria may be contributing only a small fraction to the global carbon footprint, but it is suffering some of the harshest consequences. From deadly floods to toxic pollution, the scars are there and quite obvious for all to see: the country is in environmental peril. What makes this even more troubling is that many Nigerians, including policymakers, educators, and business leaders, lack the basic tools and understanding needed to respond effectively.
This is where environmental literacy becomes essential. It goes beyond simply knowing what climate change is, it is about understanding how human choices affect the environment, being able to read and interpret environmental data, and taking responsible actions to protect our communities and natural resources. It is about shaping and enabling the emergence of informed citizens who can ask the right questions, hold the right people accountable, and make better choices.
Temilade Salami, the vibrant co-founder of EcoChampions, puts it succinctly: educating young people about climate and environmental issues equips them with the values, information, and courage needed to become change agents in their communities. It is not just about planting trees or picking up trash, it is about empowering a generation to challenge systems, speak up for their future, and drive sustainable change.
Unfortunately, this kind of empowerment is still out of reach for many Nigerians. Environmental education is rarely integrated into mainstream schooling. And for rural communities, whose survival depends heavily on natural resources, environmental knowledge is either limited or entirely absent. What people often get is surface-level information, news headlines about floods or droughts, with little guidance on how to respond or adapt. If Nigeria is to stand a chance in this era of climate uncertainty, building environmental literacy across all layers of society is not a luxury. It is a necessity.
In early 2025, the Nigeria Economic Summit Group released a report that starkly captured the scale of the country’s environmental challenges. It found that Nigerians generate approximately 2.5 million tons of plastic waste each year, putting the country among the top ten worst plastic polluters globally. But the troubling reality is not just the volume, it is what happens to it. Nearly 88% of that waste ends up unrecycled, choking waterways, littering communities, and polluting ecosystems.
At the same time, over 110 million Nigerians still lack access to clean drinking water, and only about a quarter of the population—just 26.5%—have access to improved sanitation facilities. These are not just statistics; they are snapshots of daily life for millions of people, children fetching water from contaminated streams, families living without proper toilets, communities facing outbreaks of preventable diseases.
This crisis is more than just an issue of poor infrastructure, it reveals a deeper problem: a lack of environmental literacy. Far too many citizens, especially in rural and underserved communities, have never been taught how environmental issues connect directly to their health, their safety, and their future.
Yet, despite the urgency, environmental education remains a missing piece in Nigeria’s school system. It is rarely treated as a core subject. Not because students are not eager to learn, but because the curriculum largely ignores it. Still, there are glimmers of progress. One remarkable example is the Oando Foundation’s “Clean Our World” initiative. Through this program, over 1,000 public primary schools in Lagos and Plateau States now offer environmental education. More than 95,000 pupils have been introduced to real-world lessons on climate, waste, and sustainability. Even more encouraging is the fact that four hundred and thirty-five (435) teachers have been trained to make these lessons engaging, practical, and relevant, turning abstract concepts into everyday understanding.
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Now pause for a moment and imagine what would happen if this program were scaled nationwide. Imagine schools in every state of the federation teaching children how to care for the planet, how to protect their water, how to reduce waste, and why it all matters. Imagine a future where Nigeria’s youth grow up not only informed but inspired to lead the fight against environmental degradation. That’s not just a vision—it’s a necessity.
Environmental ignorance does not just limit individual growth—it puts the entire nation at risk. Every year, Nigeria loses substantial part of its forest to uncontrolled logging, expanding farmland, and rapid urban development. With each tree that falls, we lose more than just shade or timber—we lose wildlife, ancestral livelihoods, and a crucial defense against climate change.
And where knowledge is lacking, destruction fills the void. Rivers tainted with oil spills and waste still serve as drinking water. Plastic waste overflows in drainages and wetlands, blocking waterways and causing floods. In many communities, poor sanitation remains the norm, fueling disease outbreaks. And as climate impacts worsen, even the basic guarantee of food becomes more uncertain.
This isn’t speculation—research backs it up. Dr. Caroline L. Eheazu, a highly regarded Nigerian environmental scholar, has found through years of study that this lack of environmental awareness cuts across all segments of society. Whether it is farmers in rural areas, residents in cities, or workers in factories, the knowledge gap is wide. Her work makes one thing clear: Nigeria needs a holistic approach to environmental education, one that starts in the classroom but reaches into every home, market, media outlet, and place of worship. Thankfully, there are people already lighting the way.One of them is Dr. Adenike Akinsemolu, a lecturer and committed sustainability advocate. She founded the Green Institute with a simple but powerful idea: education and the environment don’t have to compete—they can support each other. Her “Trash for Education” program allows students to exchange recyclable materials for school fees, proving that even waste can hold value when linked to opportunity. Her work gives underprivileged students a reason to care—and a way to change their lives while healing the planet.
Another shining example is the Nigerian Conservation Foundation (NCF), the premier non-governmental and environmental nonprofit organisation that has been in active existence since 1980. They run eco-clubs in schools, preserve urban green spaces, and bring environmental education directly to communities in ways that are simple, practical, and culturally relevant.
These aren’t just isolated efforts—they are blueprints for national action. When environmental literacy becomes part of everyday life in Nigeria—when children talk about recycling at dinner tables, when markets display eco-friendly signage, when churches and mosques speak about clean water and stewardship—we’re not just protecting nature, we’re protecting each other.
Environmental education, at its heart, is people-centered. It’s about giving communities the knowledge and power to thrive in harmony with the world around them. And that, more than anything, is what Nigeria needs now.
By Dr. Vitus Ijeoma.