Six secondary school students in Lagos State have received cash prizes for their performances in the 2026 Green Essay Competition, which encouraged young people to think about environmental challenges and ways to protect the planet.
The students emerged winners in the junior and senior secondary school categories of the competition organised by the Society for Environmental Toxicology and Pollution Mitigation (SETPOM).
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In the junior category, Oyenike Adeyemi of Methodist Girls’ High School came first and received N100,000. Faridah Moshood of Daltha Heights School took second place with N70,000, while Fathia Zubair of Nurul-Islam Comprehensive High School came third and won N50,000.
In the senior 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, took third place and received N50,000.
The winners were announced at the 2026 international conference of SETPOM held at the University of Lagos.
The competition was organised to encourage students to learn more about environmental problems and understand how their actions can contribute to a cleaner and safer environment.
Speaking at the conference, environmentalist Desmond Majekodunmi warned that parts of Lagos were at risk of serious flooding because of rising sea levels and the destruction of wetlands and mangroves.
He explained that wetlands and mangroves act as natural protection against flooding by absorbing excess rainwater. However, activities such as filling wetlands with sand to make space for buildings are weakening this natural protection.
Majekodunmi urged the Lagos State Government to protect these areas and stop development projects that destroy the environment’s natural ability to protect communities.
He also explained that rising sea levels were linked to global warming, which causes ocean water to expand as it becomes warmer and contributes to the melting of large ice sheets.
His warning highlighted the need for young people and communities to understand environmental issues and support efforts to protect nature.
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