‘UNILAG to Integrate Climate Change Education Into Curriculum’ – Prof. Saibu

By: Barakat Lawal

The University of Lagos (UNILAG) is set to integrate climate change studies into its academic curriculum, aiming to equip students with the knowledge and skills needed to address the challenges of a rapidly changing world. This was made known by Professor Olufemi Saibu, an Economics professor, in an interview with UNILAG Sun.

This comes after a recent climate event held at UNILAG, coordinated by Prof. Saibu and titled “Empowering Change 2.0: Strengthening Climate Education at the University of Lagos.”

Prof. Saibu noted that lecturers are the key targets to incorporate climate change into teaching, as they are known as agents of change. “The project is focused on lecturers and how we can incorporate climate change into our learning experiences and how we engage students in our research activities,” he said.

Speaking further, he added, “For instance, somebody studying economics now, you can ask them about carbon emission taxes and all of that which is related to climate change. So any course you talk about, there is a way you can fit these studies, by giving students assignments on term papers, and even use examples that lead to climate change.”

Prof. Saibu also noted that the review of the university’s curriculum to integrate climate change studies has been taken care of, as the 100-level curriculum has been reviewed, while the 200, 300, and 400 levels are under review.

“You cannot change the system without the mindset of the people. And to get into that, you must take people who will empower this mindset, and that’s why the lecturers and institutions are the key factors,” he said.

He added that the project will also reach secondary and primary schools. “We realise that you cannot change the system at the university level without looking at secondary schools, so we will incorporate secondary school teachers as well. If you don’t catch them young, you cannot change them at a later time,” he said.

Prof. Saibu noted that the project allows collaboration with NGOs, government, Green Hub at UNILAG, and the Ministry of Environment at both state and national levels, alongside climate change advocates and ambassadors in Nigeria.

The aim of the project, according to him, is to ensure that any course studied as an undergraduate will be taught in relation to climate change, so that students become advocates and ambassadors of change.

“For example, if someone is studying Mass Communication, you will be able to bring out how climate change can be incorporated. The world reports news about climate change activities in everyday life, and people now focus on social media for their information. Imagine there is a section called Climate Change or Digital Climate Change,” he said.

The University of Lagos will be the first tertiary institution in the country to incorporate climate change education into its curriculum.