Lagos Launches Clean Energy Innovation Challenge for Secondary Schools
By Aboki Forex —
The Lagos State Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources has opened registration for the maiden Lagos Cleaner Energy Schools Innovation Challenge (LCESIC) 2026. The programme targets Senior Secondary School One (SS1) and Senior Secondary School Two (SS2) students from Education Districts I, II and III.
Commissioner for Energy and Mineral Resources, Mr. Biodun Ogunleye, described the initiative as a strategic investment in the future of Lagos. He said it demonstrates the government's commitment to youth empowerment, innovation and sustainable development.
What Students Must Do
Participating schools must form teams of five students, a supervising teacher and a mentor. Each team will develop practical clean energy solutions within designated technical tracks. They will compete through district-level contests before advancing to the State Championship.
Ogunleye stated: "The future of sustainable energy depends not only on infrastructure but, more importantly, on people. Through the Lagos Cleaner Energy Schools Innovation Challenge, we are investing in the next generation of innovators by nurturing creativity, inspiring critical thinking and empowering students to develop practical solutions that will shape the future of energy in Lagos State and beyond."
Building an Innovation Ecosystem
The Commissioner added that the vision is to build an innovation ecosystem where students understand that their ideas matter and that government is committed to supporting innovation from the classroom to real-world impact. He noted that the initiative reflects the Ministry's resolve to nurture young talents capable of developing innovative solutions to Nigeria's energy challenges while encouraging critical thinking, creativity and collaboration among secondary school students.
Alignment with THEMES+ Agenda
The challenge aligns with the Lagos State Government's THEMES+ Agenda. It strengthens Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) education, promotes youth development, advances clean energy innovation and positions Lagos as Nigeria's leading hub for technological advancement.
Secondary schools across the eligible education districts are encouraged to constitute their teams, appoint supervising teachers and mentors, and complete their registration through the official application portal. Further information on eligibility requirements, competition guidelines and the registration process is available on the Lagos State Government website at www.lagosstate.gov.ng.
For the naira and Nigerian businesses, this initiative signals a growing government focus on homegrown clean energy talent. If students develop commercially viable solutions, it could reduce dependence on imported energy technology and create new local industries, potentially easing pressure on the naira over the long term.