Climate change is a massive problem for the African economy. Despite contributing the least to global warming and having the lowest emissions, Africa is the most vulnerable continent to climate change impacts under all climate scenarios above 1.5 degrees Celsius. As every nation on the continent bears its climate burden, a lack of education about the phenomenon has further increased Africa’s greenhouse emissions. Temilade Salami, a marine biologist and climate education expert, is addressing Nigeria’s critical climate education gap through EcoChampions.
EcoChampions was established in 2017 to combat Nigeria’s low climate change awareness—Salami is its Founder and Director of Communications. With extensive experience leading youth-driven environmental sustainability initiatives across Africa, Salami aims to empower the next generation with essential knowledge about climate issues.
“I spent 20 years of my life studying 1 plus 1 and ABC in school. But no one ever taught me about the most pressing global challenge – climate change. Six years ago, I decided to change that by starting my organisation, EcoChampions,” Salami shares
Salami connects young people to tools and resources to help them take climate action in their communities. She has reached over 20,000 youths across 27 African countries through climate leadership, education, and storytelling.
Fondly called Global Temi, the climate advocate has spearheaded numerous sustainability initiatives across Nigeria, focusing on waste management, tree planting, and ocean conservation. She is serious about redefining environmental activism by blending education with action to create a lasting impact.
Africa amid severe climate risks
Climate change poses severe and widespread risks to countries, affecting economies, environments, and human well-being. Extreme weather events such as floods, storms, droughts, and heatwaves are becoming more frequent and intense, destroying infrastructure, displacing communities, and claiming lives. Rising sea levels threaten coastal areas and island nations with submersion, while altered weather patterns disrupt agriculture, leading to food insecurity and widespread hunger. Water scarcity intensifies as prolonged droughts and unpredictable rainfall reduce access to clean water for drinking and irrigation.
In addition to environmental degradation, climate change accelerates biodiversity loss, pushing species toward extinction and disrupting ecosystems that support human livelihoods. Health risks increase as rising temperatures spread diseases like malaria and heat-related illnesses. The economic toll is staggering, with key sectors such as agriculture and tourism facing devastating losses. Countries are also grappling with the growing burden of climate refugees, as communities are forced to migrate due to environmental degradation.
Despite all these, climate education in Nigeria doesn’t get nearly enough attention, even though the country is facing severe environmental challenges. While the effects of climate change are becoming more visible, there’s still a considerable gap in teaching people, especially the younger generation, about sustainable ways to protect the environment. This lack of focus on climate education leaves many communities unprepared to tackle critical issues like deforestation, waste management, and ocean conservation. This is the problem Temilade Salami is fixing in Nigeroa through EcoChampions.
How EcoChampions drives climate advocacy in Africa
EcoChampions is one of Nigeria’s largest networks of professional environmentalists. Temilade Salami has committed her professional career to leading environmental change through tree planting, ocean conservation advocacy, plastic waste management and environmental education in Nigeria. The goal is to address ecological degradation head-on.
Salami has designed and developed various climate change programs and projects across 26 African countries and authored two environmental books for children. She uses her creative writing and poetic skills to create awareness of the need for sustainable green consumerism and proper waste management.
Under her leadership, EcoChampions has spearheaded successful training cohorts, graduating students who are now well-educated about climate and are ready to impact their various communities. The initiative has educated young learners on how to adopt eco-friendly practices, reduce charcoal consumption and mitigate climate change.
Salami‘s commitment to climate advocacy has earned her several recognitions, including being named one of Nigeria’s 25 Under 25 Leaders on Energy and Sustainability in 2020, LASEPA Ambassador against Noise Pollution, and Idea Hub Africa Talent of the Future. She is inspiring a generation of environmental champions. She is a Chevening scholar studying in the UK and the Deputy chair of the University of Sussex student sustainability committee.
