UNN introduces climate change postgraduate programme

The University of Nigeria, Nsukka, has introduced a postgraduate degree programme in climate change to develop a critical mass of experts to assist the country adapt to the vulnerability of the changing climate.

Introducing the programme curriculum to stakeholders in Abuja, last week, the Vice-Chancellor of the university Prof. Bartholomew Okoro, said that the programme, divided into post-graduate diploma, masters degree and doctorate, would strengthen Nigeria’s capacity to tackle the climate change phenomenon.

He said that the programme would boost the institutional capacities of academies in the country to respond to the challenges of climate change.

Dr Samuel Adejouwn, Director, Department of Climate Change, Federal Ministry of Environment, said that it was worthy to mainstream climate change issues into the educational curriculum, adding that the initiative should begin at the secondary school level.

Prof Ify Achike, Director, African Climate Change Adaptation Initiative at UNN, said that the centre would assist through the programmes to set climate change agenda for Nigeria and the continent at large.

“The proposed programme will address the climate change gap on the continent in terms of sustainability as well as strengthen what the university offers by designing and delivering degree programme that embrace climate change adaptation,” she added.