Enugu Climate Champions Lead Charge in School Climate Education

By: Abudu Olalekan

Local youth take the lead as Enugu trains champions to teach climate resilience in secondary schools.

Last week saw a significant shift happening right here in Enugu. Officials from the Governor’s office on Climate Policy joined forces with the First Lady’s office and the State Ministry of Environment. And yeah, UNICEF was behind the scenes supporting it all. They wrapped up a week-long program focused on something vital: getting young people talking about climate change inside classrooms.

Forty people came out of this. Youngsters between 18 and 25, plus twenty teachers. They were scattered across the Enugu State Secretariat and the ICT Centre at UNN, Nsukka. Some sessions were virtual, others happened face-to-face. By Friday, they all walked away equipped with more than just theory. They got a new Climate Education Manual too. It’s a co-created document, built with help from governors, teachers, even students. The goal? To make sure the knowledge fits local reality, not just textbook definitions.

Here’s the job ahead. These “Climate Champions” aren’t just going to lecture. They’re heading into pilot phases at selected secondary schools. The idea is simple: make lessons stick. Connect rising temperatures to what they see outside their own windows. If you’ve ever felt the heat change in your neighborhood, that’s exactly what they want the kids to talk about. Emotional resonance is key, apparently. You can’t just give data; you have to sell the urgency.

Prof Sam Ugwu, the Commissioner for Environment, made sure everyone knew why this matters. Represented by Permanent Secretary Mr Ozoemena Ezeh, he dropped a truth bomb about timing. Catching them early helps mitigate impacts later. Sustainability isn’t optional anymore.

But it wasn’t all serious policy speak. Prof Chukwumerije Okereke, the Senior Adviser to the Governor, had his own thoughts. He congratulated the group but reminded them of the weight of the task. Your job now, he said, is taking deep knowledge into the classroom. Instigate curiosity. Arouse passion. He wants them communicating with intent so students don’t just listen—they become change agents themselves. People who act, not just talk.

Okereke also tipped his hat to Gov Mbah. Appreciated the disposition to support green policies and the investment in Green Smart Schools around the state. That kind of backing matters.

Then there was Basil Ojengwa, the Youth Leader for APC. He noted that training youths aligns with the administration’s green agenda. He put it nicely, saying we are planting seeds of awareness. Seeds that grow into informed decisions.

Mr Arum Nnamdi from the Department of Climate Change threw in his two cents on teaching strategies. Storytelling works best. Using physical things kids can touch makes learning click. Bring the knowledge down to street level.

Representatives from the Ministry of Education chipped in too. The Assistant Director Strategic Communication said the Commissioner is fully committed to regenerative education. Experiential learning pedagogy is the model they want pushing forward.

For the participants, it felt transformative. Beyond just acquiring knowledge, a lot of them left feeling a renewed purpose. They realized they aren’t just educators. They’re catalysts. Now armed with manuals, they’ll move into schools to run structured lessons and discussions. Why secondary schools? Because it’s a critical stage. Climate literacy is low in many areas despite how visible the problems are getting. You hit them while they are still forming habits.

There was hands-on fun too. Dorsky Art World led a workshop on waste-to-art. Practical guidance turning plastic trash into compelling pieces. Innovative approaches to sustainability through creativity. Something different to break up the lectures.

As these champions roll out into the classrooms, the ripple effects will extend past school walls. Conversations in homes. Influencing community practices. Contributing to a broader culture of environmental responsibility. At least that’s the plan.