A Nigerian educationist and environmental conservation researcher, Dr Peace Amarachi Igwe, has urged that pupils be deliberately educated on ecological conservation from primary school, saying it is critical for building long-term environmental resilience and sustainable agriculture in Nigeria.
According to The PUNCH, Igwe warned that challenges such as waste mismanagement, environmental degradation, and food insecurity could only be tackled sustainably if children learn early about the links between the environment, food systems, and responsible citizenship.
“Young people must understand how waste management, animal feed sustainability, and environmental resilience are connected,” she said, stressing that environmental education should be integrated into everyday learning, practical activities, and problem-solving, rather than treated as a stand-alone subject.
Igwe also emphasized the role of parents and families in mentoring children beyond the classroom to reinforce environmental responsibility and sustainable habits.
She added that investing in early environmental education will help Nigeria nurture a generation capable of balancing economic growth with ecological responsibility.
An animal scientist by training, Igwe’s research focuses on turning agricultural by-products like plantain peels, cocoa pod husks, and cassava peels into sustainable livestock feed, reducing waste and cutting costs for farmers.
She also applies these principles practically as Managing Director of Greenhill Farms in Calabar, showing that profitability and environmental stewardship can go hand in hand.
Reflecting on her journey, Igwe said her passion for teaching began during her National Youth Service, where she mentored students in Agriculture, and continued through her decade-long leadership of the Children and Teens Department at Honey Streams Christian Centre, guiding young minds and training teachers to deliver engaging, age-appropriate learning.
“By investing in environmental conservation and the grooming of young minds, Nigeria can build a future that is productive, ethical, resilient, and sustainable,” she concluded.
—Punch
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