Authors : Umar Jiddum Jidda; Ishaq Iliyas Ishaq; Abba Jato Ibrahim; Aliyu Hassan Muhammad; Saala Yakubu Saala; Ali Muhammad Kole; Abdulsalam Mala Yakubu; Ibrahim Umar Asheikh

Volume/Issue : Volume 10 - 2025, Issue 12 - December

Google Scholar : https://tinyurl.com/47mcuyxs

Scribd : https://tinyurl.com/5drh8xdd

DOI : https://doi.org/10.38124/ijisrt/25dec053

Note : A published paper may take 4-5 working days from the publication date to appear in PlumX Metrics, Semantic Scholar, and ResearchGate.

Note : Google Scholar may take 30 to 40 days to display the article.

Abstract : This study examines the knowledge and attitudes of university students in Maiduguri, Borno State, toward climate change and environmental conservation. Using a descriptive survey design, data were collected from 150 respondents through structured questionnaires. Findings reveal a high level of awareness about climate change, with most students demonstrating understanding of its scientific basis, particularly the role of human activities such as deforestation and fossil fuel combustion. The study also shows positive environmental attitudes, as a majority of students expressed willingness to engage in conservation practices like tree planting, waste management, and resource conservation. A significant relationship was observed between knowledge levels and conservation-oriented attitudes, highlighting the importance of climate education in shaping pro-environmental behavior. The study concludes that university students in Maiduguri are well- positioned to contribute meaningfully to sustainability initiatives if supported by institutional policies and engagement platforms. Recommendations include integrating climate education across faculties, promoting practical conservation programs, and strengthening policy support within universities to foster a culture of environmental responsibility.

References :

1. Adebayo, A. A., Jegede, O. O., & Olaniyan, F. O. (2022). Urban-rural disparities in climate change awareness: Evidence from Nigeria. Environmental Development and Sustainability, 24(3), 3215-3232.
2. Adekunle, I. A., Adegbite, M. A., & Ogunjobi, J. O. (2022). Climate education in Nigerian universities: Gaps and opportunities. International Journal of Sustainability in Higher Education, 23(4), 789-805.
3. Adelekan, I. O., Adepoju, K. A., & Alabi, O. M. (2021). Student perceptions of climate risks in Nigerian urban universities. Climate Risk Management, 32, 100318.
4. Adepoju, A. O., Alabi, O. M., & Yusuf, S. A. (2021). Youth climate activism in Nigerian universities: Trends and impacts. African Journal of Environmental Studies, 4(2), 45-62.
5. Amadu, F. O., McNamara, P. E., & Miller, D. C. (2023). Understanding the adoption of climate- smart agriculture: A farm-level analysis from Africa. Climate Risk Management, 39, 100487.
6. Bello, A. S., Adekunle, I. A., & Ogundele, O. J. (2021). Youth climate literacy in African universities. Journal of Environmental Education, 52(4), 239-253.
7. Bello, A. S., Yusuf, H. T., & Abdulraheem, M. A. (2023). Curriculum analysis of climate change content in Nigerian universities. Environmental Education Research, 29(1), 112-128.
8. Dania, P. O., Okolie, U. C., & Eze, P. C. (2023). Policy-practice gaps in African climate governance: Evidence from six countries. Climate Policy, 23(2), 189-204.
9. Federal Ministry of Environment. (2021). National Policy on Climate Change for Nigeria.
10. Government Press.
11. Gifford, R., Chen, A. K., & Schultz, P. W. (2017). Psychological barriers to climate action.
12. Nature Climate Change, 7(12), 850-852.
13. Howarth, C., Parsons, L., & Thew, H. (2020). Media framing of climate change in Africa: A content analysis of newspaper coverage. Environmental Communication, 14(6), 719-733.
14. Ibrahim, A. B., Yusuf, H. T., & Abdulraheem, M. A. (2021). Cultural interpretations of climate change in African farming communities. Climate and Development, 13(5), 389-401.
15. Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. (2021). Climate change 2021: The physical science basis. Working Group I contribution to the Sixth Assessment Report. Cambridge University Press.
16. Kyari, Z. M., Mustapha, M. K., & Adamu, A. B. (2023). Religious and scientific interpretations of climate change among Muslim students in Nigeria. Journal of Religion and Environment, 15(1), 78-95.
17. Mohammed, A. S., Abba, I. Y., & Dauda, M. K. (2021). Climate change awareness among university students in northeastern Nigeria. African Journal of Climate Studies, 9(2), 34- 52.
18. Mustapha, M. K., Ibrahim, A. B., & Kyari, Z. M. (2023). Climate awareness in conflict zones: A Maiduguri case study. Environmental Psychology Review, 15(1), 45-60.
19. Ndaruga, A. M., Irwin, P. R., & Kimani, V. N. (2023). Climate change education in Sub-Saharan Africa: Challenges and innovations. Journal of Environmental Education, 54(2), 89-104.
20. Ogunbode, C. A., Doran, R., & Böhm, G. (2021). Environmental activism and youth engagement in Nigeria. Sustainability Science, 16(3), 721-735.
21. Ogundele, O. J., Fagbote, E. O., & Adelekan, I. O. (2022). Desertification trends in northern Nigeria: Evidence from Borno State. Journal of Arid Environments, 198, 104701.
22. Ojo, E. O., Sadiq, A. A., & Adepoju, K. A. (2019). Sustainability policies in Nigerian universities: An assessment. International Journal of Sustainability in Higher Education, 20(5), 847-863.
23. Oluwafemi, A. B., Adegbite, M. A., & Ogunjobi, J. O. (2022). Disciplinary differences in climate change knowledge among Nigerian students. Environmental Education Research, 28(3), 367-384.
24. Otekunrin, O. A., Otekunrin, O. A., & Momoh, S. (2021). Climate change awareness and media consumption patterns among Nigerian youth. Journal of Environmental Media, 2(1), 45- 62.
25. Shi, J., Visschers, V. H. M., Siegrist, M., & Arvai, J. (2021). Knowledge as a driver of public perception about climate change reassessed. Nature Climate Change, 11(4), 304-308.
26. Stevenson, K. T., Peterson, M. N., & Bondell, H. D. (2021). The influence of personal beliefs, friends, and family in building climate change concern among adolescents. Environmental Education Research, 27(1), 1-16.
27. Umar, A. S., Inkani, A. I., & Abubakar, M. (2022). Islamic perspectives on climate change in northern Nigeria. Journal of Muslim Minority Affairs, 42(1), 112-128.
28. United Nations Development Programme. (2021). Climate change and the Sustainable Development Goals in Nigeria. UNDP Nigeria.
29. Uzochukwu, C. E., Nnaji, C. C., & Emodi, A. I. (2020). Climate change awareness among Nigerian university students: A southeastern perspective. Journal of Cleaner Production, 256, 120465.
30. Ziervogel, G., Waddell, J., Smit, W., & Taylor, A. (2022). Indigenous knowledge and climate adaptation in Africa. Nature Sustainability, 5(1), 12-18.