PROMOTING GREEN CONSUMPTION IN TERTIARY INSTITUTIONS IN NIGERIA: CHALLENGES, POLICY GAPS, AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

Abstract

Green consumption has become an important strategy for addressing environmental degradation, climate change, and unsustainable resource utilization across the world. However, the level of green consumption in tertiary institutions in Nigeria remains low despite increasing environmental challenges such as poor waste management, excessive use of plastics, indiscriminate disposal of refuse, energy wastage, and weak environmental awareness among students and staff. This paper examined the problems associated with green consumption in tertiary institutions in Nigeria with emphasis on inadequate institutional policies, weak environmental programmes, poor sustainability awareness, and insufficient government support for green initiatives. The paper justified the need for promoting green consumption in tertiary institutions because higher institutions are centres for knowledge production, behavioural transformation, and manpower development. The study adopted a review methodology through the analysis of relevant journal articles, policy documents, textbooks, conference papers, and institutional reports related to green consumption and sustainable development. Findings from the review revealed that many tertiary institutions in Nigeria lack comprehensive environmental sustainability policies and organized programmes capable of promoting environmentally responsible behaviour among members of the academic community. The paper concluded that strengthening green policies, environmental education, waste recycling systems, and sustainable campus initiatives would improve green consumption practices in Nigerian tertiary institutions. The paper recommended among others that government and institutional administrators should develop enforceable green campus policies, integrate sustainability education into academic programmes, and provide adequate support for environmental sustainability projects in tertiary institutions.