The Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency (LASEPA) has Partners eTranzact to organise Environmental Summit Featuring Essay and Debate Competitions For Tertiary Institutions.
EpeInsights reports that in a vibrant show of commitment to youth engagement and sustainable development, LASEPA teamed up with eTranzact to host the 2025 Inter-Tertiary Institutions Environmental Summit.
The event, held at the Adeyemi-Bero Auditorium in Alausa, Ikeja, featured heated debates and powerful essays from students across Lagos’s top tertiary institutions—all centered on one thing: protecting the environment for the future.
After several rounds of fierce but friendly intellectual exchange, Lagos State University (LASU) clinched the top spot in the debate category with an impressive 88.4 points, narrowly beating Lagos State University of Science and Technology (LASUSTECH), which scored 76.8 points.
In the essay competition, it was a double win for the University of Lagos (UNILAG). Chinonye Ruth Ibeakanma came in first, followed by fellow student Oguejiofor Nkemakonam Anthony in second place.
Other standout participants included David Gabriel Victor of LASUSTECH in third place, with Olugbenga Tolulope and Oladejo Faizah Eniola of Lagos State University of Education securing fourth and fifth places, respectively.
The summit kicked off with preliminary debate rounds on May 19 and drew participation from a wide array of institutions including LASU, LASUED, LASUSTECH, Saint Augustine College of Education, and UNILAG.
The debate topic—“Plastic Pollution and the Challenges of Just Transition in a Developing Economy: Lagos as a Case Study” sparked rich discussion and showcased the students’ deep research, critical thinking, and passion for sustainability.
LASU defended the motion, while LASUSTECH presented the opposition, both demonstrating impressive insight and delivery.
The essay theme, “Sustainable Development in Lagos Coastal Regions: Balancing Blue Economic Expansion with Environmental Protection,” encouraged participants to explore real-life environmental challenges in Lagos’s coastal communities and offer innovative, practical solutions.
Welcoming participants, the General Manager of LASEPA, Dr. Babatunde Ajayi, reiterated the agency’s dedication to youth empowerment in environmental advocacy.
He also revealed plans for the ban on single-use plastics, set to take effect in July 2025, urging stakeholders to switch to sustainable alternatives like paper bags and reusable materials.
In her keynote speech, Special Adviser to the Governor on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), Dr. Oreoluwa Finnih, praised the initiative and the students’ enthusiasm.
She stressed the urgency of tackling Lagos’s environmental challenges, including flooding, rising sea levels, and plastic pollution, and emphasized the vital role of the younger generation in shaping a sustainable future.
Representing eTranzact, the Deputy General Manager for Public Sector Business & MDAs, Mrs. Adedayo Adejokun, echoed the sentiment, highlighting the importance of innovation in environmental sustainability and called on students to lead by example in their everyday actions.
The event closed on a celebratory note with the presentation of trophies and cash prizes ranging from ₦1 million to ₦150,000recognizing not just academic excellence but the power of youth-driven change.
