23/07/2026
PRESS RELEASE.
ONDO SUBEB, UBEC TRAIN OVER 200 TEACHERS, EDUCATION STAKEHOLDERS ON GREENING SCHOOLS AND CLIMATE CHANGE EDUCATION INITIATIVE.
The Ondo State Universal Basic Education Board (ODSUBEB), in collaboration with the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC), has concluded a five-day capacity-building workshop for over 200 teachers and education stakeholders under the Greening Schools and Climate Change Education Initiative (GSCCEI).
The workshop, held at the Domus Pacis Pastoral Institute, Conference and Retreat Centre, Igoba-Akure, was aimed at strengthening climate change education, environmental sustainability, agricultural entrepreneurship, and practical agricultural learning in public basic schools across Ondo State.
Declaring the workshop open, the Permanent Secretary of ODSUBEB, Princess Abike Bayo-Ilawole, described the initiative as a major milestone in the Board's commitment to building environmentally conscious schools and equipping learners with the knowledge, values, attitudes, and practical skills required to address the growing challenges of climate change and environmental degradation.
According to the Permanent Secretary, the programme, formerly known as the Agricultural Education Training Programme (AETP), has been repositioned and rebranded as the Greening Schools and Climate Change Education Initiative (GSCCEI) to align with emerging global realities and contemporary educational priorities.
She explained that the new initiative seeks to integrate climate action, environmental conservation, sustainable agriculture, food security, ecological restoration, and green entrepreneurship into the basic education curriculum.
Princess Bayo-Ilawole observed that climate change has become one of the greatest environmental challenges confronting humanity in the twenty-first century, with its devastating effects becoming increasingly evident through rising temperatures, flooding, prolonged drought, biodiversity loss, declining agricultural productivity, food insecurity, desertification, erosion, and other forms of environmental degradation.
She noted that schools occupy a strategic position in preparing future generations to become environmentally responsible citizens capable of promoting sustainable development and building resilient communities.
According to her, exposing learners to climate-smart agricultural practices and environmental education from an early stage will not only improve their understanding of environmental issues but also inspire practical solutions that will benefit society.
The Permanent Secretary disclosed that participants would receive intensive practical and theoretical training in several thematic areas, including climate change mitigation and safeguard measures, tree nursery establishment and maintenance, tree crop and orchard production, school gardening and vegetable crop production, poultry production, fisheries and aquaculture, as well as other environmentally sustainable agricultural practices.
She urged participants to replicate the knowledge and practical skills acquired during the workshop in their respective schools by establishing school gardens, tree nurseries, environmental clubs, and other agricultural enterprises capable of improving food production, promoting entrepreneurship education, enhancing environmental sustainability, and supporting the economic development of their communities.
Princess Bayo-Ilawole expressed profound appreciation to the Governor of Ondo State, His Excellency, Dr Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa, for his unwavering commitment to educational development and the prompt release of counterpart funds, which made the implementation of the programme possible.
She also commended the Executive Secretary of the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC), Dr Aisha Garba, for her visionary leadership, innovative policies, and sustained support towards improving the quality of basic education through impactful interventions such as the GSCCEI.
She congratulated all participants on their selection for the strategic capacity-building programme and encouraged them to actively participate in every session by sharing experiences, asking relevant questions, and applying the knowledge gained to transform their schools into centres of environmental excellence and sustainable learning.
The Permanent Secretary expressed optimism that the successful implementation of the initiative would significantly contribute to greener schools, improved environmental awareness among learners, enhanced agricultural productivity, and the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) within the education sector in Ondo State.
In her goodwill message, the Ondo State Coordinator of the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC), Mrs Olanike Adams, described the Greening Schools and Climate Change Education Initiative as a strategic intervention of the Commission aimed at integrating climate change education into the basic education curriculum while promoting environmentally responsible attitudes and sustainable practices among pupils and students.
According to her, the initiative reflects UBEC's commitment to equipping young learners with the knowledge, skills, values, and positive attitudes required to address environmental challenges and contribute meaningfully to sustainable national development.
She stressed that schools remain one of the most effective platforms for nurturing environmentally conscious citizens from an early age.
Mrs Adams observed that the increasing impact of climate change, manifested in rising temperatures, flooding, drought, deforestation, biodiversity loss, and other environmental hazards, has become a serious concern at both global and national levels.
She maintained that these challenges require urgent and coordinated action, particularly through education, which remains one of the most effective tools for creating awareness, promoting behavioural change, and encouraging environmental stewardship.
One of the resource persons, Professor Adedayo of the Department of Forestry and Wood Technology, Federal University of Technology, Akure (FUTA), who delivered a lecture on Climate Change Mitigation, Resilience and Safeguards, described climate change as one of the most critical environmental challenges confronting the world today.
Professor Adedayo explained that the increasing occurrence of extreme weather events, rising global temperatures, environmental degradation, biodiversity loss, and changing climatic conditions has heightened global awareness of the dangers posed by climate change to humanity and the sustainability of life on Earth.
He noted that climate change affects virtually every aspect of human existence, including agriculture, food security, water resources, public health, infrastructure, economic growth, and the overall well-being of society.
According to him, failure to take decisive action will continue to expose present and future generations to severe environmental and socio-economic consequences.
He identified sustainable forest management, renewable energy adoption, climate-smart agriculture, biodiversity conservation, and responsible natural resource management as practical strategies for mitigating the adverse effects of climate change.
Professor Adedayo therefore urged governments, educational institutions, private organisations, and citizens to work collaboratively in protecting the environment, emphasizing that only sustained partnerships, public enlightenment, and effective environmental policies can significantly reduce the devastating impacts of climate change.
In her opening remarks, the Director of Academic Services, ODSUBEB, Mrs Foluke Fajana, described the workshop as a practical, impactful, and result-oriented capacity-building programme designed to equip participants with the knowledge and hands-on skills required to implement the Greening Schools and Climate Change Education Initiative effectively in their respective schools.
Mrs Fajana disclosed that, at the conclusion of the training, each beneficiary school is expected to establish a functional tree nursery, develop a school garden, and initiate at least one viable agricultural enterprise that will serve both educational and economic purposes.
Speaking on behalf of the participants, Dr Aina Benjamin expressed profound appreciation to the Governor of Ondo State, the Universal Basic Education Commission, and the Ondo State Universal Basic Education Board for organising what he described as an eye-opening and impactful capacity-building workshop.
Dr Benjamin stated that the training would broaden participants' understanding of climate change, environmental conservation, and practical strategies for mitigating its effects.
He assured that participants would effectively utilise the knowledge and skills acquired during the workshop to promote environmental sustainability, establish climate-friendly practices in schools, educate learners on responsible environmental behaviour, and contribute meaningfully to reducing the impact of climate change across Ondo State.
The workshop attracted participants from across the education sector, including Education Secretaries from the various Local Government Education Authorities (LGEAs), head teachers of public primary schools, school administrators, classroom teachers, agricultural instructors, and other key stakeholders in basic education.
Banjo Egunjobi
Head, Media and Publicity Unit
Ondo State Universal Basic Education Board (ODSUBEB).
