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The paper analyses the public perception of climate variability and change on both local and global scales by residents of Ibadan, the largest truly indigenous city in sub‐Saharan Africa. Data for the survey was collected by the administration of a questionnaire to 453 respondents of different social and demographic strata within the city. The questions were aimed at eliciting how citizens perceived climatic experiences in their local environment and globally; its dynamics and citizens explanations for the changes identified. Sources of climatic information of respondents were explored and the social and demographic specific difference of respondents on the issues analysed. The outcome of the study indicates that a significant proportion (92%) of the public is aware of the dynamics of the local climate. In addition, almost 70% of the respondents have heard of global climate change but less than 25% know the causes.