10th U6+ Consortium of African Universities International Conference

The purpose of the study is to assess the effectiveness of Environmental Education and awareness in Waste management and Promoting environmental Sustainability. Environmental degradation and waste management challenges persist in Ilorin West Local Government Area, Kwara State, Nigeria posing significant threats to the health, well-being, and sustainable development of the community. Questionnaires of closed-ended and open-ended were used to collate information on demographic characteristics, perceptions and attitudes towards waste management, refuse dumps and disposal. Direct observations of refuse dumps and waste management practices in the study area were employed. It has been acknowledged that barriers to environmental education and sustainability are low participation in waste reduction and sustainability efforts by individuals, insufficient knowledge about environmental issues prevents effective engagement in sustainable practices. Inadequate policies, insufficient support for environmental initiatives constitutes major barrier to effective waste management. The Government need to combat illegal dumping by Increasing surveillance and penalties for illegal dumping practices and implement community clean-up programs and provide accessible waste disposal options to discourage illegal dumping. Launch widespread awareness campaigns about environmental issues and sustainable practices using various media and community outreach, Integrate environmental education into local schools and community programs to build knowledge from an early age will help a lot.