Teachers trained as climate literacy ambassadors in Abuja

The Brain Builders Youth Development Initiative (BBYDI) has trained 26 teachers across Abuja as climate literacy ambassadors through its recently concluded climate champs flashcards project.

In a statement on Tuesday, the NGO said the programme was initiated as a bold step to close the climate literacy gap in Nigerian schools.

The initiative, sponsored by Green Protocols, which ran from August to October 17, equipped educators with engaging flashcards and practical tools to teach climate change concepts in simple, relatable ways.

Teachers from both public and private schools were trained through a one-day intensive workshop and have since delivered follow-up sessions to over 2500 students in their schools.

Teachers were trained as climate ambassadors

“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 project’s approach combined storytelling, visual learning, and participatory methods. Teachers were trained to use the climate champs flashcards, a locally designed educational tool, to explain climate topics like the greenhouse effect, global warming, and sustainable practices, all grounded in the Nigerian context.

BBYDI said according to a post-training evaluation, 70% of teachers demonstrated improved knowledge of climate issues, while 80% reported increased confidence in teaching environmental topics. Remarkably, 100% of participants affirmed that the flashcards would enhance their classroom delivery.

For many participants, the impact extended beyond the classroom.

“I’m going back to face 30 staff members,” said Amusa Temitope from 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, Unazi Elizabeth, a teacher, has already started a climate action club called “Beyond the Classroom”.

“My horizon has been sharpened,” Elizabeth said. “Students can now engage in real-world environmental projects.”

To ensure continuity, BBYDI created a WhatsApp group where the trained teachers continue to exchange ideas, share success stories, and support each other’s climate education efforts. In some schools, students have initiated eco-clubs and projects aimed at promoting recycling and reducing waste.

“With the project’s success, BBYDI is already planning for Phase II, which will scale the model to additional Nigerian states and rural communities. The organization is also advocating for formal integration of climate literacy into the national curriculum,” the NGO said.

“The biggest takeaway is that teachers are not just instructors — they are changemakers,” said Ameedat Abdulsalam, another project facilitator. “When equipped with the right tools, they can ignite a movement.”

According to the NGO, the climate champs flashcards project is a testament to what’s possible when community-based innovation meets a pressing global challenge.

“As climate change continues to impact everyday life in Nigeria, from unpredictable rainfall to food insecurity, projects like this are not just timely; they are essential,” BBYDI stated.