As Nigeria intensifies efforts to build climate resilience ahead of COP 30 in Brazil, the Brain Builders Youth Development Initiative (BBYDI) has taken a bold step toward closing the climate literacy gap in Nigerian schools through its Climate Champs Flashcards Project, sponsored by Green Protocols.
The project, which ran from August to October 17, 2025, trained 26 teachers across Abuja as Climate Literacy Ambassadors, equipping them with innovative flashcards and participatory teaching tools to simplify climate change education in classrooms.
The trained teachers, drawn from both public and private schools, participated in a one-day intensive workshop and have since reached over 2,500 students
with engaging lessons on climate action and sustainability.
“Climate change education has long been absent or abstract in many classrooms. This project makes it real, local, and actionable,” said Tolulope Gbenro, one of the lead facilitators, who opened the training with a session titled “The Climate Imperative.”
The Climate Champs Flashcards, a locally designed educational tool, use storytelling, visuals, and relatable examples to explain complex topics such as the greenhouse effect, global warming, and sustainable practices within the Nigerian context.
According to post-training data, 70% of teachers showed improved understanding of climate change concepts, while 80% reported increased confidence in teaching environmental topics.
All the participants agreed that the flashcards would significantly improve classroom delivery and engagement.
For many teachers, the impact has extended beyond the classroom.
“I’m going back to face 30 staff members,” said Amusa Temitope of Blessed Kiddies Academy. “This training doesn’t stop with me; I’ll be sharing it with my colleagues and my community.”
At Federal Government Boys College, Garki, teacher Unazi Elizabeth said she had already launched a climate club tagged ‘Beyond the Classroom’.
“My horizon has been sharpened,” she said. “Students can now engage in real-world environmental projects that connect learning with local climate action.”
To sustain momentum, BBYDI established a WhatsApp learning community where the trained teachers exchange ideas, share progress, and support one another in advancing climate literacy.
In some schools, the ripple effect has led to the creation of eco-clubs promoting recycling and waste reduction.
“The biggest takeaway is that teachers are not just instructors they are changemakers,” said Ameedat Abdulsalam, one of the project facilitators. “When equipped with the right tools, they can ignite a movement.”
Following the success of the pilot phase, BBYDI announced plans to expand the Climate Champs Flashcards Project to more Nigerian states and rural communities, while advocating for the integration of climate education into the national curriculum.
As Nigeria looks toward COP 30, initiatives like this underscore the urgent need for climate literacy as a foundation for effective action.
“If we want real climate action, it must start from the classroom,” said a BBYDI representative. “That’s where the next generation of climate leaders will emerge.”
By Dare Akogun
