National Climate Summit: Four Abuja Secondary Schools Shine Brighter

At the Nigerian Student Climate Summit, held on June 6, 2024, at the Yaradua Centre to commemorate World Environment Day, four Abuja secondary schools stood out from the crowd with their innovative solutions to climate change, green energy, and clean technology adaptation challenges.

The summit brought together 52 schools and several enthusiastic and passionate young innovators. The Clean Tech Innovation Challenge received entries from 21 schools.

The panellists praised the entries as exceptional and promising.

The Clean Technology Hub organised this ground-breaking event to raise Nigerian students’ voices and empower them to face environmental challenges head-on. The students arrived prepared to demonstrate their products and ideas. Four schools won prizes.

The CleanTech Innovation Challenge winners demonstrated a diverse range of projects, including waste-to-wealth initiatives and recycling solutions, renewable energy and energy efficiency concepts, climate-smart agriculture, climate robotics, and Internet of Things (IoT) apps.

Kubwa Government Secondary School has launched the “Future Smart City Web.” Garki’s Government Science Technical College finished second in the “Production of biogas and organic fertiliser from bio-waste materials” category. Nigerian Tulip International Girls College, Wuse 2, took third place with its “Green City,” followed by Springhall British School, Maitama, with its “Energy Efficiency IOT Home Device.”

Twenty-one (21) schools presented innovative ideas and prototypes for local climate solutions.

The Students Climate Summit provided an opportunity for young innovators to showcase their clean technology innovations while also engaging in critical discussions about the environment and the global transition to net-zero emissions. The event showcased the creativity and determination of Nigerian youth.

The panel discussions focused on how young people in various fields contribute to climate policy and environmental justice. The young people demonstrated their innovative approaches and unwavering commitment to climate change mitigation, ranging from architecture and law to software engineering and mathematical modelling.

The event was attended by distinguished guests such as government officials, sponsors, partners, judges, and industry representatives. Representatives from the Federal Ministries of Science and Technology, the Ministry of Environment, and the Swedish Embassy emphasised the event’s significance in encouraging climate action and youth participation.

Climate arts and stage performances added a creative element to the event, with students using drama, dance, poetry, and pitches to educate attendees about the importance of environmental conservation and climate justice. The presentations culminated in a breathtaking performance by GSS Gwagwalada, which left an indelible impression on the audience.

As the world grapples with the urgent issue of climate change, the Nigerian Student Climate Summit emphasises Nigerian youth’s enormous potential to lead innovative solutions. The summit inspired a new generation of environmental stewards, ready to shape a more sustainable future for Nigeria and beyond, by providing a forum for collaboration, capacity building, and hands-on innovation.

Climate arts and stage performances added a creative element to the event, with students using drama, dance, poetry, and pitches to educate attendees about the importance of environmental conservation and climate justice. The presentations culminated in a breathtaking performance by GSS Gwagwalada, which left an indelible impression on the audience.