Assessment of Environmental Knowledge and Attitudes Among Secondary School Students in Maiduguri, Borno State

Environmental education provides a foundational pathway for building ecological literacy and promoting pro-environmental behaviour among young people, yet the level of environmental knowledge and attitude formation among secondary school students in Nigeria's conflict-affected North East has received minimal research attention. This study assesses environmental knowledge levels and attitudes among secondary school students in Maiduguri, Borno State, and identifies factors that influence environmental awareness. A structured questionnaire was administered to 350 students sampled from eight secondary schools across the metropolitan area. The instrument measured knowledge of environmental concepts, awareness of local environmental problems, and attitude scores using a modified New Ecological Paradigm scale adapted for the Nigerian context. Descriptive statistics, correlation analysis, and regression were used in data analysis. Findings reveal that 58 percent of students demonstrated below-average environmental knowledge scores, with particularly low awareness of climate change mechanisms and waste management principles. Attitude scores are generally more positive than knowledge levels, suggesting that emotional orientation toward environmental protection is not matched by sufficient conceptual understanding. Students who report exposure to environmental topics through formal classroom instruction score significantly higher on both knowledge and attitude measures. Gender differences in environmental attitude are minimal, contrary to findings from some comparative international studies. Recommendations focus on strengthening environmental education content in the Nigerian secondary school curriculum, teacher training, and the integration of local environmental case studies from Borno State into lesson materials. Keywords: environmental knowledge, environmental attitudes, secondary school students, Maiduguri, environmental education.