Integrating Indigenous Knowledge Systems for Sustainable Development in Nigeria: A Women-Led Intervention Study (2021–2026)

This intervention study addresses the critical gap in integrating Indigenous Knowledge Systems (IKS) into formal sustainable development frameworks in Nigeria. It presents a participatory action research project, conducted from 2021 to 2026, which centred on women’s expertise in three rural communities in the Niger Delta. The women-led methodology established ‘Knowledge Circles’ to systematically document and apply IKS concerning sustainable agriculture, water conservation, and biodiversity protection. Quantitative and qualitative data analysis demonstrates that the codification and participatory validation of these practices—including indigenous soil classification and ethno-botanical pest control—led to a measurable 40% increase in crop resilience and strengthened community-led conservation governance. The study contends that women, as primary custodians of this knowledge, are indispensable agents for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals within African contexts. Its significance lies in providing a rigorous, replicable model for elevating IKS from marginalised practice to a cornerstone of national policy, thereby challenging the hegemony of Western development paradigms. This research underscores the imperative for African-centred strategies that legitimise and institutionalise indigenous epistemologies, fostering both ecological sustainability and community self-determination.