Teachers’ Awareness and Responsiveness to Environmental Challenges in Nigeria

This study was carried out to unearth teachers’ awareness and responsiveness to environmental challenges in Nigeria. The supply of food, water, air, and shelter are among the most important ecological services on which humans rely. The survival of organic life and human advancement depend on the natural environment, which is an ecosystem. Nigerians depend on a variety of essential ecological services. Climate change, pollution, flooding, erosion, greenhouse gases, extreme weather, oil spills, natural disasters, and man-made disasters like poaching, the use of fossil fuels, careless waste disposal, bush clearing and burning, uncontrolled agricultural practices, deforestation, oil theft, and vandalism of oil pipes all pose threats to Nigeria's ecosystem. The general state of the environment is negatively impacted by educators' lack of awareness and pro-environmental activities, especially with regard to environmental issues. It is pertinent to ascertain the level of Nigerian teachers’ awareness and responsiveness to environmental problems in Nigeria. To unearth the research issues, a descriptive quantitative study was employed. Proportionate stratified sampling technique was used to sample 900 teachers across the 6 geopolitical zones in Nigeria. Results from the data collected revealed the following, among others: Nigeria has serious environmental challenges; Nigerian students need to be taught Environmental Education; and improper disposal of wastes is a major problem in Nigeria. It was recommended, among others, that Nigerians should be educated on how to manage and dispose of waste properly. Another recommendation is that Environmental Education should be taught at schools in Nigeria.