A 500-level student of the Lagos State University College of Medicine (LASUCOM), Sowemimo Efunjola, has emerged winner of the 2024 World Environment Day commemoration essay competition in Alausa, Lagos State.

The essay competition which was organized by the Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency (LASEPA) in conjunction with Dangote Industries and the Nigerian Breweries explored the theme, “Innovative approves to land restoration, combating desertification, and enhancing drought resilience in the Lagos environment.”

The Agency’s General Manager, Dr. Tunde Ajayi, stated that the initiative is geared towards involving undergraduates in various tertiary institutions within Lagos State in the task of environmental preservation.

According to him, it would be a great avenue to foster the agency’s advocacy campaigns in schools and colleges to carry along the youths in the implementation of government reform policies aimed at combating climate change and greenhouse effect for sustainable environmental growth.

Sowemimo Efunjola, the winner of the essay competition, expressed her joy, and excitement for attaining such a laudable feat – an achievement she feels is surreal.

She said, “I give glory to God for His favor and grace. I am deeply honored and humbled to be the winner of the essay competition. Honestly, I did not see this win coming. Nonetheless, I put a lot of effort into writing my entry essay. I am so grateful to Lagos State, and the sponsors of the essay competition for the great opportunity. Also, I am profoundly grateful to my school, Lagos State University College of Medicine, for nurturing me.”

While speaking about the challenges she faced and how she was able to overcome them, the student of medicine and surgery said: “Quite frankly, I was reluctant to write the essay because I have participated in a few competitions like this before without winning. This demoralized me.  Nonetheless, one thing stood out for me. And that was the theme. I really loved the theme and how the competition was for the environment.  I am so glad I ended up applying.”

In a bid to convey her heartfelt gratitude to the organizers of the essay competition, Miss Sowemimo Efunjola commended the Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency (LASEPA) for doing a wonderful job in carrying the youths along in the matters of the environment and hopes that the solutions proffered in her essay alongside that of others would help in making the environment better and safer for all.

“I must commend LASEPA for doing a wonderful job by involving Lagos youths in matters of the environment within the state. I hope the solutions provided by my fellow participants and I can be implemented to get a healthier Lagos”, Efunjola stated.