By Demi Adeniyi
As the June 5 annual World Environment Day celebration draws near, the Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency (LASEPA) has reaffirmed its commitment to implementing government-sustainable environmental policies aimed at mitigating climate change effects, promoting a circular economy and ensure environmental protection against drought and desertification.
In achieving this, the agency stated that it is scaling up its advocacy campaigns in schools and colleges to carry youths along in the implementation of government reform policies geared towards combating climate change and greenhouse effect for sustainable environmental growth.
As part of its school advocacy programmes for the World Environment Day celebration for the year 2024, the Agency stated that it is partnering with Dangote Industries and the Nigerian Breweries to sponsor an essay competition among undergraduate students across all tertiary institutions in the State as a way of involving youths in the task of environmental preservation.
LASEPA’s General Manager, Dr. Tunde Ajayi, who disclosed this at the weekend during a pre-event Press Conference held in Alausa, stated that the essay competition is aimed at raising the consciousness of youth on environmental preservation, desertification and other climate change mitigating efforts towards achieving a sustainable environment for a healthy living.
The Theme of the Year 2024 World Environment Day, according to the LASEPA’s Boss is: “Land Restoration, Desertification and Drought Resilience”, which also forms the topic on which undergraduate participants in the competition will be tasked.
He said participating students are expected to give a write-up that will address environmental challenges in the State while exploring innovative solutions that could be useful in policy formulation.
The General Manager revealed that the essay competition is open to undergraduate students of all tertiary institutions in the State and will attract a cash prize of N500,000 for the overall winner, while the second and third runners-up will go home with N300, 000 N200, 000 respectively.
Ajayi explained further that there would be other consolation prizes for the participants in the competition, including becoming LASEPA’s ambassador on environmental protection, gaining free access to LASEPA e-Library and LASEPA ISO-certified laboratories and other facilities for learning and research development.
He therefore urged undergraduates across all tertiary institutions in the State to take the advantage of the competition to enrich themselves in knowledge and material resources, adding that every undergraduate student in all tertiary institutions in the State is qualified to participate in the competition, adding that the entry for participation closes on Wednesday, June 5, 2024.
On how to participate in the competition and other necessary guidelines, Ajayi urged interested undergraduate students to visit info@lasepa.gov.ng or the agency’s other social media handles.
In addition, the General Manager noted that relevant information and requirements on the essay competition have been sent to all tertiary institutions in Lagos, adding that after the submission deadline on Wednesday, 5th June, 2024, a panel of judges carefully selected on merit will grade the quality of the work submitted by participants for winners to emerge.
Ajayi, who commended Dangote Industries, Nigerian Breweries and other sponsors for prioritising environmental sustainability in their Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) policy, assured that the State government would continue to create an enabling environment for the growth of businesses in the State.
He added that the agency will not relent in implementing government policies that will guarantee a sustainable environment that is devoid of pollution or other environmental infractions detrimental to the health of the citizenry.