Adult Education and Environmental Sustainability Consciousness in Riverine Communities of Bayelsa State

This study examined the role of adult education in developing environmental sustainability consciousness among residents of riverine communities in Bayelsa State, South South Nigeria. Environmental degradation driven by oil extraction activities, unsustainable fishing practices, and inadequate waste management poses severe threats to the livelihoods and health of Bayelsa's riverine communities, necessitating targeted educational interventions to cultivate sustainability awareness and behaviour. The study employed a quasi-experimental pre-test post-test comparison design involving 160 adults in two riverine communities. The intervention community received an eight-week environmental education programme integrated within existing adult literacy sessions, while the comparison community received standard literacy instruction without the environmental component. Environmental sustainability consciousness was assessed using a validated instrument adapted for the riverine context. Analysis of covariance revealed significantly higher post-intervention sustainability consciousness scores in the intervention community across dimensions including environmental knowledge, environmental values, and pro-environmental behavioural intention. Qualitative post-intervention interviews identified the most impactful programme elements as field observation activities at degraded and protected environmental sites, storytelling using community members' own environmental change narratives, and practical problem-solving workshops on waste reduction and sustainable fishing. Recommendations include integrating environmental education as a mandatory component of all adult education curricula in Niger Delta states, developing community-led environmental monitoring programmes linked to adult education centres, and establishing formal partnerships between adult education providers and environmental regulatory agencies. Keywords: environmental education, sustainability consciousness, riverine communities, Bayelsa State, environmental adult education.