Climate Change: Group Tasks FG on ‘Green Skills’ in School Curriculum
Kuni Tyessi in Abuja
The Plan International Nigeria Youth Advisory Panel has urged the federal government to incorporate climate change study into the nation’s school curriculum to mitigate climate change impacts so as to actualise a sustainable green economy.
The Chairperson of the group, Mrs. Faith Adaji, made the call yesterday, in Abuja, at a roundtable celebrating the 2023 International Youth Day with the theme: ‘Green Skills for Youth towards a Sustainable World’.
She said education plays a huge role in building skills of young women and girls to tackle climate change and support green economy, hence the need to teach the subject in schools so as to catch them young and get the nation’s youths involved in the climate change actions.
”The role of education in fostering and leveraging on economy for young women and girls is very important.
”Many people believe that climate change is ambiguous, they think how can I leverage climate change and make climate change lucrative to have green economy and business friendly for everyone.
“Infusing climate change into the curriculum is very important because young children nowadays do not have the knowledge of climate change.
”But if it’s been taught right from primary to tertiary levels of education, whatever innovative change that the young people will be coming up with would have lasting impact on the environment,” Adaji said.
The Country Director, Plan International Nigeria, Mr. Charles Usie, noted that there was need to create space for youths so that their voices would be heard in ensuring sustainable development.
“Plan International is interested in partnering with you, listen to you, meet with you, hear your thoughts, visions and ideas and together form a group.
”The intention is not to create more youth forum, but to enable youth become contributors and solutions rather than problems in this country.
”We must bring our ideas together to get bonds to transform, excel and thrive in this country.
”If you are a fool in Nigeria and you ‘japa’ to Canada, you will become a fool in Canada, if you are a fool in Nigeria and you ‘japa’ to UK, you will become a fool there, but if you are successful in Nigeria and you can make it here, then you can make it anywhere.
”Our role is to make sure you are an embodiment of success anywhere in Nigeria and you can make it work in Nigeria,” he said.
A member of the Nigerian Youth Parliament (NYP), Mallam Marwan Umar, said the organisation would put forward recommendations to ensure climate change knowledge in the curriculum from the basic level.
