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Winners Emerge in Lagos Has Talent – Climate Edition
Winners have emerged in the Lagos Has Talent: Climate Edition, an initiative powered by the Lagos State Government, through its Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources in collaboration with the C40 Cities under its UK government funded – Climate Action Implementation (CAI) Africa Programme.
The Lagos Has Talent initiative presented a platform for artists, innovators, and entrepreneurs to present their ideas and projects related to sustainability and climate action, thus spotlighting the creativity and climate consciousness of young Lagos residents.
The grand finale of the competition, which was held on Saturday, July 26 at the Radisson Blu Hotel in Ikeja, brought together a vibrant mix of youth innovators, creatives, government leaders, development partners, and climate advocates for a celebration of talents, sustainability, and collective action against climate change.
ALSO READ: NUPRC Aims for 5.13bn Barrels Deepwater Oil Reserves
The award ceremony, themed around Youth, Creativity, and Climate Action, recognized outstanding young talents aged 18–35, who used artistic expression and entrepreneurship to spotlight climate issues facing Lagos State. Categories included storytelling, poetry, film and animation, music, sustainable fashion, and eco-entrepreneurship.
The highlight of the event was the award presentation to the top five finalists, who were selected from over 100 applicants across the state. Progress Jesutomiwa Giwa, an emerging visual artist and storyteller, emerged as the overall winner, receiving the grand prize of N5 million.
The first runner-up, Ayomide Amusan, a visual storyteller, received N3 million, while Anita Nwokoji, a spoken-word poet, took home N2 million as the second runner-up. The fourth and fifth place winners, Tiwalade Aderemi and Adebayo Razzak respectively also received N500,000 each in a surprise announcement during the ceremony.
The five finalists emerged following a rigorous assessment by a select panel who evaluated the entries using the following criteria: creativity, passion, and the unique spark that inspires climate action in Lagos.
The three judges were made up of climate change advocates, namely: Oluwaseyi Jesuton, a multi-award-winning climate advocate, whose impactful environmental awareness work began at a young age when she co-founded U-recycle Initiative Africa in 2018; Jumoke Olowookere, Founder and Creative Director of African Creative Hub (African Creative Sustainable Synergy Hub), an innovative social enterprise dedicated to fostering “a world without waste,” and Omowunmi Omoseyindemi, Senior Scientific Officer at the Lagos State Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources, where she plays a crucial role in advancing environmental initiatives.
The dignitaries at the event included the Special Adviser to the Lagos State Governor on Environment, Engr. Olakunle Rotimi-Akudo; the Permanent Secretary for the Lagos State Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources, Dr. Gaji Omobolaji Tajudeen; Permanent Secretary, Office of Drainage Services, Engr. Mahmood Adegbite; Managing Director/CEO of the Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA), Dr. Muyiwa Gbadegesin, and the General Manager of the Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency (LASEPA), Dr. Tunde Ajayi. Also present were the Regional Senior Programme Manager for Africa at C40 Cities, Amaka Agwu, and a representative of the judging panel, Omowunmi Omoseyindemi.
At the event, the Director of Climate Change and Environmental Planning at the Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources, Mr. Michael Bankole praised the winners and announced that all five finalists will be enrolled in a mentorship programme beyond the competition.
“This event is more than a competition,” said Engr. Olakunle Rotimi-Akodu, Special Adviser to the Lagos State Governor on Environment. “It is a platform to amplify youth voices, elevate innovative climate solutions, and demonstrate Lagos State’s unwavering commitment to climate resilience and inclusive development.”
Following the grand finale, the winners were hosted by the Honourable Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Mr. Tokunbo Wahab at his office. During the meeting, each finalist had the opportunity to present their entry and share the inspiration behind their projects. Impressed by their passion and creativity, the Honourable Commissioner graciously announced an additional N1 million cash prizes to the 4th and 5th place finalists.
Underscoring the government’s commitment to long term youth engagement in climate advocacy, the Commissioner also announced that all five finalists would be formally integrated into the Ministry’s Climate Advocacy Team to serve as brand ambassadors and the faces of its various initiatives aimed at mitigating and adapting to the impacts of climate change, including promoting green energy, improving wastewater management, and developing climate adaptation and resilience plans.
“This initiative is not just about winning prizes but about building a movement that continues beyond the stage,” said The Honourable Commissioner.
The Lagos Has Talent: Climate Edition has become a beacon for youth-led climate innovation and a model for sustainable civic engagement, exposing participants to capacity-building opportunities and platforms that amplify their work beyond the contest.
Photo Caption
L-R: Senior Manager, Inclusive Climate Action and Knowledge – Climate Action Implementation (CAI) Africa Programme, C40 Cities, Kevin Mutia; Permanent Secretary, Office of Drainage Services, Engr. Mahmood Adegbite; Special Adviser to the Governor of Lagos State on Environment, Engr. Olakunle Rotimi-Akodu; Lagos Has Talent 2025 Winner, Progress Jesutomiwa Giwa; Permanent Secretary, Office of Environment Services, Dr. Gaji Omobolaji Tajudeen, and the Regional Senior Programme Manager for Africa at C40 Cities, Amaka Agwu at the Lagos Has Talent Grand Finale held on the 26th of July, 2025, at Radisson Blu Hotel, GRA, Ikeja, Lagos State.
NEWS
Yenagoa Hosts NCDMB 2026 Content Forum
The 15th edition of the Practical Nigerian Content Forum (PNCF) is billed for Yenagoa, Bayelsa State from November 30.
This edition of the initiative of the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) would hold be in collaboration with the Bayelsa State Government as disclosed on Tuesday when a delegation of the NCDMB and DMG Events met with the Deputy Governor of Bayelsa State, Dr Peter Pereotubo Akpe, at the Government House, Yenagoa.
Leading the delegation, the General Manager, Corporate Communications Division of NCDMB, Dr Obinna Ezeobi, conveyed the appreciation of the Executive Secretary of the board, Felix Omatsola Ogbe, to the state government for its continued support for the forum.
He said, “We appreciate the Bayelsa State Government for its continued partnership and support for the PNC Forum”.
READ ALSO: 40 Oil Blocks up for Grabs as NUPRC Opens 2026 Bid Round
According to him, the Youth PNC was designed to expose young people in the Niger Delta to emerging opportunities in the oil and gas industry and the competencies required to build successful careers in other sectors of the economy.
Ezeobi added, “We have introduced new initiatives into this year’s programme to ensure that the PNC continues to deliver greater value to participants and address emerging issues in the Nigerian content space.”
The Senior Manager, Zonal Coordination, NCDMB, Mr Adebayo Joseph, spoke on plans for the Youth PNC, while the leader of the DMG Events delegation, Ms Olamide Oloko, outlined the major activities planned for the conference.
Oloko said the new initiatives would include a Local Content Roundtable and a two-day programme for Local Community Contractors aimed at helping them scale up their operations.
She added, “The 2026 edition will also feature a breakout session to collate stakeholders’ views on the future direction of Nigerian Content over the next decade.”
Responding, Akpe assured the NCDMB and DMG Events of the state government’s continued support for the PNC Forum.
Akpe said, “The Bayelsa State Government is committed to ensuring that the event is successful and that participants have a conducive and secure environment throughout their stay in the state.”
He said the initiative demonstrated the practical impact of the programme and urged the board to sustain efforts aimed at creating opportunities for young people in the region.
NEWS
‘Dem Dey Use Stick Dey Flog Women’ — Nigerians in India Camp Cry Out
Nigerian women allegedly being held at a deportation facility in India have cried out over their treatment, with a video circulating online showing some of them displaying injuries and alleging that security personnel flogged detainees.
The video began circulating online on Wednesday and shows a group of Nigerian women inside and around what they described as a deportation camp.
Several of the women pointed to marks, bruises and apparent injuries on their legs, feet and bodies while alleging that they were beaten with sticks or canes.
SEE ALSO: Rufai Oseni Row: NiDCOM Breaks Silence on Nigerians Detained in India, Addresses Ekene’s Case
“See my video, see my leg,” one of the women could be heard saying in the footage.
Another woman said, “Mona see wetin dem dey do for deportation camp.”
“Deportation camp, na dem flog person, see,” another woman said while showing what appeared to be an injury.
The women further alleged that female detainees were beaten with sticks.
“Dem dey use stick dey flog women, mona dey see am,” one of them said.
Another woman, while pointing at an injured detainee, said, “Dem carry cane flog o… see her body, dem flog am.”
The women also alleged that police officers carried sticks inside the facility.
“Police carry stick like say dem dey cut firewood,” one of the women said.
The footage shows the women appearing distressed as they moved through the facility and gathered in an outdoor area.
They repeatedly appealed to Nigerians to share the video and draw attention to their situation.
“Make una see… make this video trend/go,” one woman said.
“Make una share am,” another added.
One of the women also expressed frustration over their alleged experience at the facility, saying, “We don suffer, every time, every time.”
The footage comes amid ongoing concerns over Nigerians detained at the Lampur detention centre, also known as Sewa Sadan, in New Delhi.
Recall that in September, reports emerged that more than 200 Nigerians were being held at the facility, with some detainees alleging poor food, inadequate medical care and prolonged detention.
The Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM) subsequently defended its handling of the situation and said the Nigerian High Commission in India was seeking another amnesty period to facilitate the departure of Nigerians without proper immigration documentation.
No official response from the Indian authorities or the Nigerian government specifically addressing the allegations in the latest video had been made available at the time of publication.
NEWS
‘Military Gets Huge Budgets, Yet Air Crashes Persist’ — Shehu Muhammad
Rights activist, public affairs analyst and Chief Executive Officer of The Dialogue, Shehu Muhammad, has questioned the continued occurrence of military aircraft crashes despite the huge budgetary allocations to the country’s defence and security sector.
Muhammad spoke while reacting to the recent Nigerian Navy aircraft crash in Irele Local Government Area of Ondo State during an interview on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief.
Describing the incident as “one incident too many,” he recalled that Nigeria had recorded several military aircraft crashes involving the Nigerian Air Force and Nigerian Army over the years.
RELATED NEWS: Military Gear Found at Ondo Crash Site as Helicopter Burns to Rubble
He said the recurring incidents had raised concerns among members of the public about the condition of military aircraft and the process through which military hardware is procured.
“People have begun to cast aspersions as to the honesty, sincerity, and openness in the purchase of military hardware, including airplanes,” Muhammad said.
According to him, the concerns are heightened by the substantial funds allocated to the military and other security agencies over the years.
“There are insinuations by the public that, after all, the military receive the highest amount of money from the budget year in, year out,” he said.
Muhammad also questioned the transparency of defence procurement, particularly the process of selecting contractors for the supply of military equipment.
He argued that the repeated crashes should prompt authorities to examine military aviation operations, aircraft procurement and the management of defence resources.
The latest crash occurred in Irele, Ondo State, with recovery efforts reportedly complicated by the difficult terrain around the crash site.
Muhammad said the latest incident should not be treated in isolation, but should lead to broader questions about military aviation safety and the management of resources allocated to the defence sector.
He called for greater transparency and accountability in the procurement and management of military hardware to restore public confidence.






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