LAWMA showcases skills of Summer School participants

The Lagos Waste Management Authority has showcased the creativity, knowledge and practical skills acquired by participants in its 2026 Summer School programme.

Speaking during the grand finale, held at LAWMA headquarters, Ijora-Olopa, on Thursday, the Special Adviser to the Lagos State Governor on the Environment, Engr. Olakunle Rotimi-Akodu, commended the management of LAWMA for the laudable initiative, describing the programme as a significant investment in the environmental consciousness of young people.

The Director of Public Affairs at LAWMA, Mukaila Sanusi, disclosed this in a recent statement obtained by The PUNCH.

According to the statement, Rotimi-Akodu urged the pupils to harness the knowledge and skills acquired during the programme to improve their lives and contribute meaningfully to the protection of the environment, noting that everyone had a role to play in keeping the environment clean and sustainable.

Rotimi-Akodu encouraged the young participants to become “environmental ambassadors in their homes, schools and communities, while using the knowledge gained in circular economy and waste management to inspire positive behavioural change among their peers.”

He further appreciated LAWMA’s management for deepening environmental education among young people through its academy.

The Special Adviser noted that exposing children to sustainable waste management practices at an early age would help build a generation that is more conscious of its responsibility to the environment.

Also speaking, the Managing Director/CEO of LAWMA, Dr Muyiwa Gbadegesin, explained that the establishment of the LAWMA Academy was driven by the agency’s commitment to educating and empowering young people with the knowledge required to become responsible environmental stewards.

He noted that the initiative was designed not only to promote proper waste disposal and environmental cleanliness, but also to expose young minds to the economic opportunities within the waste management and recycling sector.

According to him, waste, when properly managed, could become a valuable “resource capable of creating jobs, supporting livelihoods and contributing to economic development, as waste management is not just about environmental responsibility but also about areas of opportunity.”

He expressed the optimism that the pupils would apply the lessons learnt at the academy, influence positive waste management practices within their homes and communities, and grow into responsible environmental ambassadors committed to building a cleaner and more sustainable Lagos.

Highlighting the various theoretical and practical activities undertaken by the participants, the Head of the LAWMA Academy, Mrs Hauwa Momoh-Ajibola, provided an overview of the four-week summer school programme, explaining that the pupils were exposed to important aspects of waste management, including waste sorting, recycling, reuse, environmental sanitation and responsible waste disposal.

She added that the practical sessions had significantly enhanced their understanding of waste management and helped them appreciate the value of materials often regarded as waste, as they had been equipped with environmental values that would extend beyond the classroom.

A total number of 80 students between the ages of 7 and 15 who participated in the 2026 LAWMA Academy Summer School demonstrated their creativity and understanding of waste management through various innovative projects which were on display at the event.

Adekola Khadijah emerged as the Most Outstanding Student following her exceptional performance and innovative project, which was adjudged the best among the projects presented.

She distinguished herself by creatively transforming discarded carton paper into a signboard bearing the inscription “LAWMA Academy” and the Authority’s logo, demonstrating remarkable ingenuity and a strong understanding of recycling, reuse and resource recovery.