How Nigerian Students Became 'Change Agents' in Waste Management

Nigerian cities aren't managing solid waste effectively. Waste has to be managed all the way from generation to storage, collection, transport, recycling, treatment, and disposal. But it is visible everywhere in the country's cities, presenting a major socio-cultural and environmental challenge, writes Chidi Nzeadibe for The Conversation.

The environmental education initiative in 2008 and 2014 used a combination of qualitative methods - focus group discussions and in-depth interviews with the students - and a review of policy documents. In 2014, the use of social media was introduced, and this had a significant impact on the students' environmental attitudes and behaviour. It enabled them to interact more effectively among themselves in ways that protect the environment. Curriculum change and the introduction of new teaching and research methods were part of the innovations that fostered robust conversation and academic rigour.

To assess the impact of the initiative, students were asked for their views during the 2014 event. Many identified themselves as "change agents" who could influence people's attitudes about waste. In this role, they said, they could create awareness about the "resource and cultural value of waste".

Some participants said there was a need to encourage more students to research sustainable solutions to the waste challenge. Pro-environmental behaviours such as "the 3Rs" (reduce, reuse and recycle) became buzzwords in their daily interactions.

Reducing paper and using email, Facebook and WhatsApp in their class communications became commonplace. Where paper had to be used, reuse was encouraged. In fact, recycling became a way of life among the students following this learning experience.