Why Nigeria needs to include climate change action in school curriculum — UNICEF

The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has stressed importance of Nigeria including climate change action in the national school curriculum, explaining reasons for thinking in that direction.

The global agency also called on stakeholders from government to private sector to put in substantial efforts to addressing climate change for the well-being of Nigerian children, saying doing otherwise will put their future in greater risk.

The Chief of UNICEF Field Office for South-West Nigeria, Celine Lafoucriere, made this call on Wednesday in Lagos at an event organised by UNICEF Nigeria in conjunction with the Lagos State Ministry of Youth and Development.

The event with many students from both government and private schools across Lagos in attendance was held in commemoration of this year’s World Children’s Day with a theme, “The voices, today- empowering children and young people to lead climate change.”

According to Lafoucriere, it is very important that we must all take the issue of climate change more seriously as the effect of it is putting everyone, especially children who are the future, at great risk.

“So, it is necessary that we empower the children and youth, whose creativity, ideas and leadership will shape the sustainable and prosperous future we all envision.

“We can do this by government embedding climate change action into the national curriculum right from the early education so that the generality of children can understand it and its effects and also talk about it in school, at home and at every other place.

“This will empower them with requisite knowledge to take action and protect the environment even from their early age.”

Lafoucriere explained further that the effort is not only on children studying climate change in school but also required that their fundamental rights are protected for them to thrive.

According to her, upholding Child’s rights is essential for creating a better world for the present generation and the next to come and achieving this mandate is at the heart of UNICEF globally.

“So, your rights as children are non-negotiable, your well-being, your good health, good nutrition, access to water and sanitation, hygiene, and access to education are all under our mandate in UNICEF.

“You are the drivers of the safeguard of peace and violence, so, I particularly celebrate the role you play in Nigeria and any other country, lending your voices and preparing solutions to critical social issues, including climate change because it’s about you and your creativity.

While commending the children and educators at the event for their passion and commitment towards a safe and healthy environment, she mentioned that aside from government and schools, parents also have roles to play in this journey.

She noted that research had shown that Nigeria is among top three globally that most affected by climate change impact, meaning that up to 100 million children and youths under 18 are increasingly exposed to extreme weather patterns in Nigeria.

This scenario, according to her, causes heavy rainfall, flooding, storm surges and elevated temperatures, contributing to frequent disasters that impede their rights to good health, nutrition, access to water, and education, with schools shutting down.

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She declared that “UNICEF will continue to collaborate with relevant partners, public and private, as well as UNICEF champions, young people and children, to create a safer planet for children.

Anything we do in UNICEF, for example, is in support of government through collaboration with relevant institutions as we so much believe that no one including the government can do everything all alone.

“So, I encourage everyone to celebrate and empower our children and youths especially who are in their adolescent age for they are the future.”

Also speaking, the Lagos State Commissioner, Ministry of Youths & Social Development, Mr. Mobolaji Ogunlende, equally emphasized importance of children enjoying their fundamental rights, saying doing so including the right to live in a safe and healthy environment will help them to thrive and become responsible citizens.

He noted that global celebration of children symbolizing the unity and commitment of world leaders including Nigerian government and Lagos State by extension to protecting children’s rights.

He commended UNICEF for always taking the issues concerning children very seriously, noting that Nigerian children truly deserve the best value for survival, development, protection and participation in matters that affect them.

Making reference, he said, Lagos State, for example, is committed to upholding the provisions of Child Rights Law for the benefit of children in the stat, thanking UNICEF for its continuous support to the state.

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