Following the national launch of three critical handbooks aimed at enhancing school safety and climate resilience, the Federal Ministry of Education, with the support of UNICEF and in partnership with UBEC and other stakeholders, has successfully commenced a nationwide Training of Trainers (ToT) programme. This next phase is geared toward ensuring the full implementation of the Climate Change Education Handbook, Early Warning Guide, and Managing School-Related Violence Handbook in schools across Nigeria.
Speaking on behalf of the Honourable Minister of Education,
the Director of Education Support Services, Hajiya Larai Ahmed, reiterated the
Ministry’s commitment to embedding safety, security, and climate responsiveness
into Nigeria’s educational system. She described the handbooks as “not just
tools, but transformative frameworks for change” and emphasized that no
Nigerian child should be left behind in accessing quality education in a safe
learning environment. The Director noted that the Training of Trainers
programme is a critical step in translating the handbooks from policy documents
to practical tools in classrooms nationwide.
The dissemination workshop, which preceded the ToT sessions,
was held at the Hawthorn Suites, Abuja, on 16th June 2025. This was followed by
intensive ToT sessions held in Abuja (17th–19th June) and Kano (24th–26th
June), where master trainers were drawn from 16 states across the country.
States represented at the Abuja training included:
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Delta, Nasarawa, Kogi, Enugu, Plateau, Anambra,
Lagos, and Benue.
States represented at the Kano training included:
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Kaduna, Niger, Kano, Katsina, Kebbi, Sokoto,
Zamfara, and Jigawa.
Each state was represented by five carefully selected
education professionals, including officials from State Ministries of
Education, State Universal Basic Education Boards (SUBEBs), Mass Education
Boards (MEBs), and teacher training institutions.
Participants received hands-on exposure to the content and
use of the handbooks, with a focus on contextual adaptation and local
implementation strategies. The sessions also promoted inter-agency synergy and
the use of the handbooks as practical references in schools.
Key agencies represented at both sessions included the
Federal Ministry of Education, Federal Ministry of Environment, UBEC, NERDC,
and other technical and academic institutions. UNICEF’s sponsorship and
continued technical support were instrumental to the success of the entire
programme.
Key Recommendations and Next Steps:
As part of the action plan emerging from the sessions,
participants proposed the following:
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Expansion of the ToT programme to cover
remaining states.
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Mass
production and distribution of the handbooks to ensure accessibility.
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Provision of additional copies to institutional
libraries for reference and training purposes.
The Ministry reaffirmed its commitment to collaborating with
state and non-state actors to ensure widespread adoption and practical
implementation of the handbooks. Stakeholders were also reminded that
safeguarding learners against environmental hazards and violence is a shared
responsibility that requires sustained effort and proactive engagement.
The Federal Ministry of Education, together with its
partners, remains dedicated to ensuring that Nigerian schools become safe
havens where children can learn, grow, and thrive.
