Reviews
Vol. 4 (2026)
https://doi.org/10.4081/mw.2026.47

A systematic review of challenges facing climate change education in Nigeria and its public health consequences

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Published: 4 June 2026
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Climate change education, Nigeria, public health consequences, systematic review, curriculum barriers

Authors

Adeyemi Ogedengbe Omoge
omogeadeyemi@gmail.com
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4921-6262
3Ps Health Initiative International, Akure, Nigeria.
Modupe Oluwatimileyin Omoge
3Ps Health Initiative International, Akure, Nigeria.

Climate change poses escalating threats to public health worldwide, with low- and middle-income countries like Nigeria experiencing disproportionate risks from rising temperatures, erratic rainfall, flooding, droughts, and associated vector-borne diseases, malnutrition, respiratory illnesses, and heat stress. Education is widely recognized as a vital tool for building climate resilience, yet climate change education (CCE) in Nigeria faces persistent barriers, including fragmented curricula, inadequate teacher training, resource shortages, and low public awareness. This systematic review maps the challenges facing CCE in Nigeria and examines their linkages to public health consequences. The objectives were to identify barriers to CCE implementation, describe associated public health impacts in the Nigerian context, and explore interconnections between educational gaps and health outcomes. Following PRISMA guidelines, we searched PubMed, ScienceDirect, BMC, Frontiers, Scopus, African Journals Online, and grey literature sources from January 2010 to March 2026 using terms combining climate change indicators with education concepts restricted to Nigeria. Results highlight three dominant themes: curriculum and policy deficits, awareness and capacity gaps, and resource and infrastructural constraints. These barriers collectively limit adaptive behaviors and amplify disease burdens, particularly in rural and northern regions. Deficient CCE correlates with poor hygiene practices during floods and low uptake of heat-mitigation strategies, exacerbating malaria, cholera, and respiratory conditions. In conclusion, strengthening CCE through curriculum reform, teacher training, and multisectoral collaboration is essential to mitigate public health risks. Recommendations include integrating climate-health modules across all educational levels, scaling community awareness programs, and prioritizing rural infrastructure investment. Future research should evaluate intervention effectiveness using longitudinal and mixed-methods designs.

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1.
A systematic review of challenges facing climate change education in Nigeria and its public health consequences. Mental Wellness [Internet]. 2026 Jun. 4 [cited 2026 Jun. 4];4. Available from: https://www.mental-wellness-journal.net/mw/article/view/47
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