ASSESSMENT OF COMMUNITY AWARENESS AND PARTICIPATION TOWARDS ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION IN GOMBE METROPOLIS GOMBE STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

This study attempts to assess community awareness and participation in environmental education
in Gombe Metropolis, Gombe State Nigeria. The study used both primary and secondary sources
of data. The primary data was generated from structured questionnaires administered and
interviews while the secondary data was collected from published materials. The study area had
projected population as about 391,869 people as at 2019. In view of that, stratified and cluster
sampling techniques were employed to draw 250 respondents from the total population around
the six major wards (Bolari, Pantami, Kumbiya-kumbiya, Jekadafari, Tudun- wada and
Herwagana) in the study area. The findings of the study however, revealed that the level of
environmental education and awareness among the people of the study area was moderate. The
study further indicated that the people in study area exhibited some level of positive
environmental attitudes such as use of dust-bin, waste disposal points, cleaning of culverts and
drainages, etc. The study concluded that the overall people of the study area were aware of the
environmental problems that exist in Gombe metropolis, but could not act positively. However,
he major environmental problems highlighted by the respondents among others were, soil
erosion, flooding, poor sanitation conditions deforestation, etc. The study finally recommended
that efforts should be made by the government, NGOs and all other relevant stakeholders such as
community/environmental health workers, community leaders, clerics, environmental marshals,
etc in educating and enlightening communities about roles expected of them to play towards
environmental awareness, protection, maintenance and conservation.