A New Era in Sustainability Education
Stakeholders across West Africa have expressed their appreciation for the launch of the FABE Institute of Sustainability, a groundbreaking e-learning platform that marks a significant milestone in environmental education. This initiative, described as the first sustainability-focused e-learning institute in the region, was unveiled in Lagos and is set to promote environmental awareness and sustainable practices throughout the continent.
The FABE Institute of Sustainability (FIS) was launched on Thursday in collaboration with Deloitte Africa. The partnership aims to create a digital platform that provides climate literacy and circular economy education, developed by African experts who are already addressing local sustainability challenges.
A Decade-Long Vision Realized
Temitope Okunnu, the Chief Executive Officer and Founder of FABE Foundation International, emphasized that the launch represents the realization of a decade-long vision to embed environmental consciousness within Nigeria’s education and community systems. She highlighted the journey that began in classrooms, school upcycled eco-gardens, and communities where children were taught that sustainability is not just a concept but a lifestyle.
“Today we are celebrating more than just the launch of the Institute of Sustainability, but the realisation of a vision that began almost 10 years ago,” Okunnu said. “This began in classrooms, school upcycled eco-gardens, and communities where we taught children that sustainability is not just a concept but a lifestyle.”
Okunnu explained that the institute will serve as a digital platform for climate literacy and circular economy education, designed by African experts already solving local sustainability challenges.
“The FABE Institute of Sustainability is that dream come alive, an e-learning platform built to make climate literacy, circular economy, and sustainability education accessible to everyone,” she said.
Courses and Expertise
The institute will provide courses on various topics such as waste management, renewable energy, sustainable finance, biodiversity, and green enterprise. Okunnu added that the platform is built for Nigerians, by Nigerians, to help them solve global problems locally, because when people understand the why and how of sustainable living, real change begins.
Abena Biney, the Chief Sustainability Officer of Deloitte West Africa, praised the partnership, stating that it underscores Deloitte’s commitment to bridging the region’s green skills gap.
“It is my utmost pleasure as we celebrate the launch of the FABE Institute of Sustainability. This is a milestone in advancing sustainable climate change education and awareness across our region,” Biney said.
She added that across Africa, there is a growing recognition of the need to transition towards cleaner and more sustainable systems in energy, agriculture, and finance. One of the biggest barriers is the lack of skilled people required to drive that transition.
Biney described the initiative as more than a corporate social responsibility effort, calling it a “capability imperative” that would empower Africans with the technical and managerial skills needed to thrive in a green economy.
Support from Local Leaders
Titilayo Oshodi, the Special Adviser to the Lagos State Governor on Climate Change and Circular Economy, also praised FABE Foundation for pioneering the sustainability institute, describing it as “an idea whose time has fully come.”
“Today is not just about the launch of an institute but about an idea whose time has fully come. The FIS shows how learning can lead us to a future where progress and the planet are not in competition but in collaboration,” Oshodi said.
She added that Lagos was aligning with this vision through its circular economy agenda. “In Lagos, this is the spirit driving our circular economy agenda. We are building a city that does not just see change but adapts to change. Sustainable development is not a luxury but a necessity and pathway to shared prosperity,” she stated.
Oshodi said the FIS represents a bridge between knowledge and impact, where young Africans, innovators, and policymakers can collaborate to create actionable sustainability solutions.
Environmental Advocacy
Dr Desmond Majekodunmi, the Executive Director of the Lekki Urban Forest and Animal Sanctuary Initiative (LUFASI Nature Park), hailed the launch as a vital step in deepening environmental education in Nigeria.
“The importance of leading a sustainability revolution is what we call this launch. With what FABE is doing, we say a big well done,” Majekodunmi said.
“This launch is not just the beginning; we are now on the springboard of environmental awareness that will penetrate deep into the conscience of those we reach. As we take this awareness to schools and communities, the consciousness will spread exponentially,” he added.
Commitment to a Sustainable Future
FABE Foundation stated that the institute will focus on building a generation of Africans capable of driving climate action through education and innovation.
Okunnu reaffirmed the foundation’s commitment to ensuring that sustainability becomes part of Nigeria’s everyday culture. “Sustainability is not just a cause; it is a culture,” she said.