PROMOTING ENVIRONMENTAL AWARENESS AMONG PRIMARY SCHOOL STUDENTS IN THE SOKOTO METROPOLIS

This study investigates how gender and the location of a school influences students’ environmental awareness among primary school students in Sokoto Metropolis, Nigeria. Using a 2×2 factorial survey design was used to assess 352 pupils across three dimensions: environmental knowledge, affective concern, and behavior. The results reveal that urban pupils and female students demonstrated higher overall awareness than their peri-urban and male counterparts, respectively. However, no significant interaction was found between gender and location, confirming that each variable contributes independently to environmental awareness. These findings align with global research indicating urban advantage and gender sensitivity in environmental attitudes but also underscore systemic gaps in curriculum delivery. This study highlights the need for targeted, locally relevant environmental education, especially in schools with under-resourced resources. It recommends integrating structured environmental content into early education and promoting experiential learning. This work contributes to efforts aimed at nurturing environmentally responsible citizens in developing contexts from a young age.