LAWMA unveils 80 young environmental ambassadors at 2026 Summer School finale
Eighty children aged between seven and 15 have been unveiled as young environmental ambassadors after completing the 2026 Summer School programme of the Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA), with one of the participants turning discarded carton into an impressive signboard for the Authority.
The young participants showcased their creativity, knowledge and practical skills in waste management and recycling at the grand finale of the four-week programme held at the LAWMA headquarters, Ijora-Olopa, Lagos, on Thursday.
The programme, organised through the LAWMA Academy, exposed the children to waste sorting, recycling, reuse, environmental sanitation and responsible waste disposal, while teaching them that materials commonly regarded as waste could be transformed into useful resources.
For Adekola Khadijah, the lessons went beyond the classroom. She emerged as the Most Outstanding Student after her creative project, in which she transformed discarded carton paper into a signboard bearing the inscription “LAWMA Academy” and the Authority’s logo.
Her project was adjudged the best among the various works presented by the participants and demonstrated her understanding of recycling, reuse and resource recovery.
Speaking at the grand finale, the Special Adviser to the Lagos State Governor on the Environment, Engr. Olakunle Rotimi-Akodu, commended LAWMA for investing in the environmental education of young people.
He urged the pupils to apply the knowledge acquired during the programme in their homes, schools and communities, stressing that everyone had a role to play in keeping the environment clean and sustainable.
Rotimi-Akodu encouraged the children to see themselves as environmental ambassadors who could influence their peers and families to adopt responsible waste management practices.
He also commended the LAWMA management for using the Academy to introduce children to concepts such as the circular economy and sustainable waste management at an early age.
According to him, early exposure to environmental education would help raise a generation that understands its responsibility towards the environment.
The Managing Director/CEO of LAWMA, Dr. Muyiwa Gbadegesin, said the LAWMA Academy was established to educate and empower young people to become responsible environmental stewards.
Gbadegesin explained that the programme was not only about teaching children proper waste disposal and environmental cleanliness, but also about helping them understand the economic opportunities available in waste management, recycling and the circular economy.
He said properly managed waste could become a valuable resource capable of creating jobs, supporting livelihoods and contributing to economic development.
He urged the participants to take the lessons beyond the programme and use their knowledge to influence better waste management practices in their homes and communities.
Earlier, the Head of the LAWMA Academy, Mrs. Hauwa Momoh-Ajibola, said the four-week Summer School combined classroom learning with practical activities designed to give the children a better understanding of waste management.
She said the practical sessions helped the participants appreciate the value of materials often regarded as waste and equipped them with environmental values that could extend beyond the classroom.
The 80 participants displayed various innovative projects at the grand finale, demonstrating how young people could turn environmental lessons into practical solutions.
Through the programme, LAWMA said it hoped to nurture a generation of environmentally conscious Lagos residents capable of contributing to a cleaner, healthier and more sustainable city.
