The University of Lagos (UNILAG) affirmed its commitment to a circular, climate-resilient future by hosting the 2025 End-of-Year Green Award & Sustainability Induction Ceremony.
Organised by the UNILAG Green Hub on Tuesday, December 2, 2025, the event celebrated the strides of the Hub in its bid to advance recycling, circular economy practices, and environmental stewardship across the university community.
It featured the presentation of Sustainability Awards to deserving individuals, departments, and partners, as well as induction of new volunteers into the UNILAG Green Hub community.
Vice-Chancellor Honored for Visionary Leadership
The most prominent award was the 2025 Green Leadership Award, presented to the 13th Vice-Chancellor of UNILAG, Prof. Folasade Tolulope Ogunsola, OON, FAS. She was recognized for her outstanding commitment to fostering environmental transformation on campus.
Key initiatives championed during her tenure include:
- The 1000 Trees Campus Greening Project, which strengthened biodiversity and enhanced the university’s climate resilience.
- Conceiving and supporting the Green Future Programme, establishing one of Nigeria’s strongest youth-led sustainability and social business models.
- Introducing electric campus shuttle buses, a bold step toward promoting clean mobility and reducing carbon emissions.
Pioneers and Dedicated Staff Recognized
Other top honorees included:
- Prof. Lucian Obinna Chukwu, the immediate past Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Management Services), who received the 2025 Green Icon Award for pioneering and facilitating the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) that established the Green Hub.
- Prof. Bola Oboh, the current Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academics & Research), who bagged the 2025 Most Outstanding Green Management Staff Award. She demonstrated unmatched personal commitment by recycling no fewer than 1,500 plastic bottles this year alone from her household.
Outstanding Departmental/Unit Achievements
Several Departments and Units were celebrated for showcasing innovation and strong commitment to waste recovery:
- Communication Unit: Led by Mrs. Adejoke Alaga-Ibraheem, the unit was recognised for embedding the “Trash It – Reuse It” message and driving recycling literacy across campus; and for also anchoring the Green Revolution campaign of the University of Lagos.
- Security Unit: Under the leadership of Mr. Omotosho, the unit intercepted illegal scavengers and recovered over 1,000 kg of recyclable waste from un-authorised collectors.
- School of Foundation Studies: Led by Prof. Khalid Adekoya, the school contributed over 120 kilograms of paper to recycling efforts in 2025, the highest departmental total for the year.
Additionally, the Examinations Office, Records Office, and the Security Unit were all recognized as the “Most Outstanding Green Departments”.
The ceremony also celebrated some exceptional graduating students of the University who are alumni of the Green Hub, including:
- Ms. Moyo Azeez, who finished with a First-Class Degree from the Department of Mass Communication. In further demonstration of her commitment to circular economy practices, her final year research dissertation covered activities of the Green Hub.
- Mr. Nurudeen Ogundipe, a recent graduate of Psychology, won the Lagos Youth Circularity Award as part of his committed promotion of the activities of the UNILAG Green Hub.
Other members of the Green Hub that were honoured included (please contact Dr. Adelopo for the list of student-awardees, as it is not nice if we don’t mention them, at least)
Industry Partnership and Alumni Excellence
Lafarge Africa Plc, a distinguished sustainability partner, delivered a goodwill message, which acknowledged UNILAG as a national leader in campus-based environmental innovation. Represented by a top management official, Mr. Adedokun Daniel, Lafarge reaffirmed its commitment to supporting the university’s recycling initiatives and sustainability education.
“University of Lagos, you are sitting on a gold mine; and it is in your hands if you are ready to mine it”, he declared.
The event concluded with the formal induction of new members who successfully completed their sustainability training courses, reinforcing the Green Hub’s mission to shape the next generation of circular economy champions for Nigeria and beyond.
Report: Isaiah Kumuyi
Photography: Victor Ezenwanebe (Student Intern)
