The Democratization of Environmental Literacy in Post-Primary Educational Institutions in Nigeria (DELiTE) project, based at Summit University, Offa, Kwara State, recently hosted a transformative workshop aimed at developing a 21st-century curriculum to advance environmental literacy. The event convened leading education experts, environmental advocates, and policymakers to reimagine educational strategies for Nigerian post-primary schools, addressing pressing environmental challenges.

Keynote Address by Professor Hamdallat Yusuf

In a compelling keynote address, Professor Hamdallat Yusuf of the University of Ilorin highlighted the critical components of effective curriculum design. She emphasized integrating innovative methodologies to foster critical thinking and problem-solving skills among learners. Professor Yusuf provided insights into existing curricula structures while advocating for a shift toward experiential and problem-based learning tailored to real-world challenges.

Professor Yusuf introduced a culturally sensitive and open-access curriculum model, advocating for its adoption to equip students with tools to tackle environmental issues such as pollution control, clean energy generation, and climate change adaptation. Her presentation featured a robust five-stage curriculum development framework to serve as the foundation for these transformative initiatives.

Vision of the DELiTE Project

The Principal Investigator of the DELiTE project, Professor Abiodun Musa Aibinu, Vice-Chancellor of Summit University, elaborated on the proposed curriculum’s essential attributes. He outlined a comprehensive evaluation strategy prioritizing cultural sensitivity, experiential learning, and measurable outcomes. Professor Aibinu emphasized that the curriculum’s impact would be assessed through pre- and post-evaluations of students’ environmental literacy and community feedback to ensure relevance and effectiveness.

Impact and Recognition

This landmark workshop has set a new direction for environmental education in Nigeria by prioritizing inclusivity, practical engagement, and cultural relevance. Participants left optimistic about the DELiTE project’s potential to foster a generation of environmentally conscious citizens capable of addressing global and local ecological challenges.

The DELiTE project is part of the prestigious 2024 Global E-STEM Awards from the North American Association for Environmental Education (NAAEE), USA. This recognition was awarded to a consortium led by Summit University, Offa, in partnership with OptiEdge Technology, the Institute of Innovative Technology, Ibadan, and the Federal University of Technology, Minna.