The Lagos State Government has urged young people to take active roles in protecting the state’s oceans and coastal environment.
Dr Mobalaji Gaji, Permanent Secretary, Lagos State Ministry of Environment and Water Resources, made the call on Monday at the opening of the 2026 Young Leaders for Sustainable Environment Program (YLSEP) in Lagos.
The program, organized by Eko EnvironTalk, is themed: “Ocean Heroes, Guardians of the Blue.”
Gaji described Lagos’ lagoons, creeks, wetlands, and Atlantic shoreline as critical assets that support the state’s economy, food systems, and climate resilience.
He identified plastic pollution, blocked waterways, mangrove destruction, coastal erosion, and climate change as major threats to the state’s coastal ecosystems.
“Government policies alone will not save our ocean and our coast. Policy determines direction; it is people, informed, motivated and organized people, that determine whether that direction is actually followed,” he said.
The permanent secretary said the state government had intensified efforts in climate action, adaptation, resilience, waste management and environmental restoration, with agencies including the Lagos State Waste Management Authority, Lagos State Parks and Gardens Agency and Lagos State Waterways Authority playing key roles.
Gaji said youths should not view themselves merely as beneficiaries of a sustainable future but as active participants in creating and protecting it.
He urged participants to become environmental advocates in their schools, communities and relevant institutions, while using digital skills and social media to promote environmental awareness and encourage positive behavioral change.
Gaji also expressed the ministry’s readiness to engage young people interested in environmental governance and innovative approaches to improving environmental management.
He commended Eko EnvironTalk and its partners, including Gracefield Island and the International Ocean Institute (IOI) Nigeria Center, for investing in youth environmental education. He subsequently declared the 2026 YLSEP open.
Earlier, Mr Lasisi Adedoyin, Convener of Eko EnvironTalk, said the program was founded on the belief that young people could drive meaningful environmental change.
Adedoyin said Lagos’ lagoons, coastlines, creeks and seas were facing increasing pressure from plastic pollution and other environmental threats.
“Our lagoons, our coastlines, our creeks and our seas are under pressure as never before,” he said.
He said plastic waste was polluting waterways and threatening marine life, stressing that the ocean should not be treated as a dumping ground.
According to him, the program would expose participants to ocean and coastal ecosystems, the effects of plastic pollution and climate change, and practical approaches to addressing environmental challenges.
Adedoyin said previous YLSEP cohorts had produced sustainability champions who led projects and influenced environmental conversations in schools, campuses and communities.
He urged the new cohort to use the program to build knowledge, networks and a strong sense of purpose.
Also speaking, Miss Wande Seriki, Program Manager, Eko EnvironTalk, described YLSEP as an immersive environmental education and leadership initiative designed to help young people understand, explore and develop solutions to environmental challenges.
She said the 2026 cohort comprised 28 participants aged between 13 and 28 years, with females accounting for 57.4 percent and males 42.9 percent.
Seriki said 57.4 percent of the participants were from tertiary institutions, particularly in Southern Nigeria.
She added that participants would undergo physical and theoretical training, engage with environmental experts, develop solutions and participate in a tree-planting exercise.
Mr Williams Akanbi, Director, International Ocean Institute Nigeria Center, described the ocean as an essential life-support system that regulates the climate, supports biodiversity, and provides food, livelihoods, transportation, and trade opportunities.
He said Nigeria’s marine and coastal ecosystems, including mangroves, lagoons, wetlands and offshore waters, supported diverse forms of life and millions of livelihoods.
Akanbi, however, identified plastic pollution, habitat destruction, overfishing, unsustainable coastal development and climate change as growing threats to the marine environment.
He urged participants to become ocean stewards and share the knowledge gained with their families, schools and communities.
Akanbi noted that becoming an “ocean hero” did not require a career in marine science, as professionals across different fields could contribute to ocean protection.
He encouraged the youths to “know the ocean, love the ocean and protect the ocean.”
In her goodwill message, Miss Oreoluwa Babajide, Assistant Manager, Health, Safety and Environmental Sustainability, Gracefield Island, said sustainability involved both environmental protection and empowering young people to build a sustainable future.
Babajide said Lagos’ close relationship with its oceans, lagoons and waterways made environmental responsibility particularly important.
She attributed some flooding incidents in the state to heavy rainfall, blocked drainage systems and obstructed waterways, urging residents to recognize the impact of everyday decisions, particularly waste disposal.
During a question-and-answer session, a participant, Orepo Asake, asked Akanbi what inspired his interest in ocean-related studies and whether there were opportunities for young people to work with the Ministry of Environment.
Akanbi said his interest began in childhood after watching documentaries on marine life and the ocean.
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He explained that although he initially aspired to become a medical doctor, he eventually studied zoology, later worked with the Nigerian Institute for Oceanography and Marine Research and obtained a master’s degree in marine biology.
He said his work at the IOI focused on scientific knowledge, advocacy and ocean literacy.
Responding to the question on opportunities at the ministry, Gaji said youths would be encouraged to engage with relevant departments and understand their operations.
He added that the ministry was open to new ideas and innovations from young people, particularly in the use of social media and digital tools to promote environmental awareness.
The 2026 YLSEP runs from Aug. 17 to Aug. 22, with organizers aiming to raise a new generation of young environmental leaders capable of translating knowledge into practical action.
