The Lagos Waste Management Authority, through the LAWMA Academy, has launched the 2026 edition of its annual Summer School, reaffirming its commitment to raising a new generation of environmentally responsible children with practical knowledge and lifelong skills in waste management, recycling and environmental sustainability.
The four-week programme, themed “Young Eco-Heroes: Protecting Our Environment,” was declared open on Monday by the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of LAWMA, Dr Muyiwa Gbadegesin, at the Authority’s headquarters in Ijora, Lagos. The programme is designed for children between the ages of seven and 15 and is aimed at equipping them with the knowledge and skills required to adopt responsible environmental practices.
Gbadegesin described children and young people as critical stakeholders in the effort to achieve a cleaner and more sustainable Lagos. He stressed that lasting environmental transformation would require continuous education, public enlightenment and positive behavioural change, adding that the LAWMA Academy had become the Authority’s institutional platform for environmental education and advocacy.
According to him, the Academy provides environmental education programmes for residents, schools, markets, estates and community groups, helping them understand the importance of responsible waste management and sustainable living. He said the Summer School would expose participants to practical lessons in waste segregation at source, recycling, environmental sanitation, climate change, resource conservation, leadership, teamwork and sustainable lifestyles.
The programme combines classroom instruction with practical demonstrations, creative recycling activities, educational excursions and hands-on projects designed to deepen the participants’ understanding of responsible waste management and the principles of the circular economy. The initiative also seeks to encourage children to reduce waste, sort waste at source, recycle and reuse materials, while promoting responsible consumption in their daily activities.
Gbadegesin said the programme would culminate in a comprehensive assessment on August 26, 2026, to evaluate the participants’ understanding of the lessons taught during the four-week exercise. He added that outstanding participants would be recognised for their performance, while all participants would leave the programme equipped with practical knowledge and skills to serve as environmental sustainability ambassadors in their homes, schools and communities.
The LAWMA boss noted that the initiative was aimed at nurturing environmentally conscious children who could influence positive behavioural change among their peers, families and communities. He said the future of the environment depended on the choices being made today, stressing that the programme was designed to inspire young people to practise responsible waste management and encourage others to protect the environment through sustainable actions.
He reaffirmed LAWMA’s commitment to promoting sustainable waste management through continuous environmental education, public enlightenment and stakeholder engagement. According to him, the efforts are aligned with the Lagos State Government’s vision of creating a cleaner, healthier, more resilient and sustainable city.
Also speaking, the Head of LAWMA Academy, Mrs Hauwa Momoh-Ajibola, said the four-week programme had been carefully structured to combine classroom learning with practical experiences. She listed some of the activities as interactive sessions on waste sorting, recycling, upcycling, climate change, environmental sanitation, resource conservation, leadership development and teamwork.
Momoh-Ajibola added that participants would engage in creative learning activities, educational field trips, practical culinary classes, environmental board games and an eco-fashion show. The children would also participate in practical upcycling workshops facilitated by Green Matex, FABE Foundation and the LAWMA Academy team.
She said the programme would include revision classes and a final assessment before the closing ceremony scheduled for August 27, 2026. She urged the participants to take active part in all activities, stressing that the knowledge gained would help them become ambassadors of responsible waste management and environmental stewardship in their homes, schools and communities.
The 2026 LAWMA Academy Summer School forms part of the Authority’s broader strategy to deepen environmental consciousness among young Lagosians and promote a culture of responsible waste management. Through the initiative, LAWMA seeks to equip children with practical environmental skills that can contribute to waste reduction, recycling, resource conservation and the development of a cleaner, greener and more sustainable Lagos.
