Our Reporter
The Lagos State Universal Basic Education Board (LASUBEB) in collaboration with the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC), during the week held a State Level Training for Master Trainers on Greening Schools and Climate Change Education Intervention (GSCCEI), aimed at strengthening climate change education and promoting sustainable practices in public primary schools across Lagos State.
The State Director of UBEC Mr. Joshua Arema speaking at the opening ceremony on behalf of the Executive Secretary of UBEC, Dr. Aisha Garba, said that the initiative is designed to integrate environmental sustainability, climate change education, green skills and climate resilient practices into basic education. She noted that the programme aligns with the National Education Sector Renewal Initiative and Nigeria’s commitment to the UNESCO Greening Education Partnership.
She explained that the GSCCEI was developed through extensive consultations with education institutions, government agencies, climate experts and other stakeholders. According to her, the process culminated in the development of the National GSCCEI Implementation Guidelines and Handbook, which provides a structured framework for the implementation of the intervention across the country.
Dr. Garba further disclosed that the commission would deploy a web -based Monitoring and Evaluation Portal to facilitate real time reporting and tracking of the intervention nationwide.
She also announced the appointment of the African Centre for Environment, Agriculture and Rural Development (ACEARD) as the National Technical Consultant to provide technical and implementation support for the initiative .
In his remarks, the Executive Chairman of LASUBEB, Dr. Hakeem Babatunde Shittu, represented by a Board Member, Dr. Saheed Ibikunle, reaffirmed the Board’s commitment to providing safe, healthy, inclusive and environmentally sustainable learning environment for pupils across Lagos State.
Dr. Shittu noted that the Lagos State Government had continued to support environmental sustainability through initiatives such as tree planting, responsible waste management and activities promoting safe and healthy school environments. He stressed that the training would further strengthen the capacity of education personnel to mainstream climate consciousness and sustainable practices into the school system.
He charged the Master Trainers; Education Secretaries, Directors, Desk Officers, School Managers, Teachers and other stakeholders to effectively cascade the knowledge and skills acquired to teachers and other education stakeholders, noting that their role will be critical to the successful implementation of the intervention.
He added that the training would equip participants with practical approaches to environmental conservation, responsible waste management, efficient resource utilisation and climate change awareness, ultimately contributing to greener, safer and more climate resilient environment in state-owned schools across the state.
