Role of Environmental Literacy Education in the Realization of SDG6 in Rivers State of Nigeria: A Case Study

Abstract

Sustainable Development Goal 6 (SDG6) was adopted by the United Nations (UN) in 2015 for the purpose of ensuring availability and sustainable management of clean water and sanitation for all humanity by the year 2030. The UN considers realization of SDG6 an issue of utmost concern to governments and citizens all over the world. The purpose of the research study reported in this paper was to crystalize the role of Environmental Literacy Education (ELE) in the process of SDG6 realization in Rivers State of Nigeria. Two Local Government Areas (LGAs) of the State were used for case study. Two Research Questions and a Null Hypothesis guided the study. A questionnaire was used to provide data needed for the study. The population of the respondents was 7,717. A random sampling technique was adopted to select 20% of them for the study. Mean responses and the T-test were employed to analyze obtained data. The findings revealed general inadequate provision of clean water and effective sanitation management due to very low impact of the activities of Stakeholders entrusted with achievement of SGD6 in Rivers State. To remedy the lapses discovered, the researchers delineated five situation-specific ELE programmes, integrating relevant aspects of the UN Education 2030 Agenda for SDG6. The programmes clearly portray the vital role of ELE towards achievement of SDG6 and have thus been recommended, with their modes of implementation, for adoption by the Rivers State.