Winners have emerged in the 2026 Green Essay Competition organised by the Society for Environmental Toxicology and Pollution Mitigation, with six secondary school students in Lagos State receiving cash prizes for their performances in the junior and senior categories.
In the junior secondary school category, Oyenike Adeyemi of Methodist Girls’ High School emerged as the winner and received N100,000, while Faridah Moshood of Daltha Heights School came second with N70,000. Fathia Zubair of Nurul-Islam Comprehensive High School finished third and received N50,000.
In the senior secondary school category, Atoyebi Halimat of Dowen College, Lekki, emerged winner and received N100,000. Adewunmi Princess of Methodist Girls’ High School, Yaba, came second with N70,000, while Kamal Adabale of Crescent High School, Victoria Island, finished third and received N50,000.
The winners were announced at the 2026 international conference of SETPOM, held on Tuesday at the University of Lagos.
The competition formed part of the society’s efforts to encourage young people to engage with environmental issues and promote sustainability through education.
Other students who participated in the competition were Ibraheem Olaniyan of Daltha High School, Oluwadarasimi Esan of Dowen College, Adeyemo Jedidiah of Methodist Girls High School and Odemwingie Agidigbi of YCT Secondary School.
Speaking at the conference, environmentalist Desmond Majekodunmi warned that parts of Lagos faced serious flooding risks due to rising sea levels and the destruction of wetlands and mangroves.
He urged the Lagos State Government to curb development activities that undermine the environment’s natural defences, particularly the practice of sand-filling wetlands for construction projects.
Majekodunmi, who was the guest speaker, said wetlands and mangroves helped absorb excess rainfall, warning that their destruction could leave communities more vulnerable to flooding.
He said, “Parts of Lagos are under very grave risk of massive flooding. That’s partly because the oceans have been energised with the heat. And they’ve been expanded because of the heat. And there’s also some melting of giant ice caps, which is also raising the sea level.”
He added, “But also partly because we’re not preserving enough of the wetlands and the mangroves. They are nature’s way of absorbing the extra rain that will always come from time to time.”
The environmentalist called for stronger protection of the ecosystems, arguing that development projects that destroy nature’s capacity to protect communities should not be regarded as genuine development.
“I hope that the media will get behind this and say that you can’t just be sand-filling everywhere,” he said.
“We need to put the planet ahead of profit-making. It’s not development if you’re destroying nature’s capability of having a harmonious relationship with ourselves.”
Majekodunmi also blamed excessive consumption and activities driven by greed for contributing to environmental degradation, warning that failure to change such practices could have catastrophic consequences.
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He further cautioned that the combination of El Niño and human-induced global warming could intensify heat waves. He urged Nigerians to adopt practices that protect the environment, stressing that human survival depended on healthy ecosystems.
The Dean of the Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Lagos, Prof Ganiyu Oyetibo, said environmental security and ecosystem resilience were essential to global stability.
He warned that competition for scarce natural resources, particularly water, could contribute to insecurity, advocating stronger environmental governance and the use of scientific research to address ecological challenges.
Oyetibo also called for the application of artificial intelligence and other technological innovations to improve environmental monitoring, predict extreme weather events and support precision agriculture.
“Technological innovations are a vital accelerator for environmental solutions,” he said, while stressing that technology must be backed by effective regulation and scientific evidence.
“Technology without governance poses systemic risks. Policy without scientific evidence remains in defence,” he added.
The Head of the Department of Zoology, UNILAG, Prof Kehinde Kemabonta, also emphasised the importance of technology in ecosystem protection, urging Nigerians to keep their surroundings clean and plant trees.
In her remarks, the President of SETPOM, Dr Idowu Aneyo, called for environmental research to translate into practical solutions and policies that improve people’s lives.
“We believe that research must move beyond publications to practical solutions and environmental policies. It must translate into measurable improvements in people’s lives,” she said.
Aneyo said the society provided a platform for academics, industry players, regulatory bodies and communities to exchange knowledge and develop sustainable solutions.
She described the Green Essay Competition as part of efforts to engage young people in environmental discussions, adding that education was essential to building a sustainable future.
The Chairman of the Local Organising Committee, Bibiana Nwosa, said the conference sought fresh perspectives to advance environmental protection and sustainability.
The event also saw the Director of the Centre for Research Support and Grants Management at Yaba College of Technology, Dr Funmilayo Doherty, receive the 2026 SETPOM Fellow Award in recognition of her contributions to environmental skills development and sustainable livelihoods.
Doherty reaffirmed her commitment to advancing environmental sustainability, strengthening skills development and expanding opportunities for sustainable livelihoods.
Source: Punch · Wale Akinselure
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