This paper examines sustainable development within the context of issues arising from the UN's declaration of a Decade of Education for Sustainable Development (ESD), 2005-2014. Africa's mode of response to the ESD challenge could be gleaned from the New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD). Nigeria already has a National Conservation Education Strategy which predated NEPAD and may serve as the launching-pad for ESD-related activities and strategies for the development of appropriate knowledge, values, skills and perspectives. This paper posits that the country will only make a success of its current efforts if there is the political will to learn from past mistakes and borrow from best practices across the globe.