Bricks, Not Bullets: Transforming Nigeria's TVET Curriculum to Build Environmental Security and Sustainable Peace

Abstract

Nigeria's escalating insecurity ranging from banditry to insurgency is increasingly linked to environmental degradation, climate-induced resource scarcity, and youth unemployment. While Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) has been advocated as a solution to youth restiveness, its potential to address the environmental drivers of insecurity remains largely untapped. This paper examines the nexus between sustainable construction skills education and community resilience in conflict-prone regions of Nigeria. Drawing on existing literature and recent policy initiatives, the study proposes a transformative framework for integrating environmental security principles into TVET building technology curricula. Findings reveal significant gaps in current programmes regarding climate-adaptive building techniques, green material utilization, and environmental conflict mitigation strategies. The paper argues that equipping TVET graduates with disaster-resilient construction skills, sustainable resource management competencies, and green entrepreneurship capabilities can reduce climate-induced displacement, de-escalate natural resource conflicts, and provide economic buffers against radicalization. The study concludes with recommendations for curriculum reform and the establishment of community-based construction skills centers as strategic investments in long-term conflict prevention and national security.