Lagos schools target Stockholm water prize awards

Three public and two private secondary schools will represent Lagos State at the 2019 National Stockholm Junior Water Prize Finals Competition holding at the premises of the Embassy of Sweden in Abuja on Friday, May 31. Five projects of Lagos State schools made it to the finals as against one expected from each state.

The selected projects are ‘Water Purifier” by Ansar-Ud-Deen Grammar School, Randle Avenue, Surulere; “Coagulating effects and potential use of medicinal plants and lower plant in wastewater purification” by Mogaji Millennium Senior Secondary School, Iloro, Agege; “Natural ultra water purifier” by Kuje Senior Secondary School, Lagos.

Others are “Absorption property of activated charcoal obtained from corn cobs to purify water” by Penny International College, Coker Village, Orile Iganmu; and “Natural water purifying column” by Marv Grace College, Abule Egba.

The event is organised by the Stockholm International Water Institute (SIWI). It is the most prestigious International student competition for water-related issues.

The competition is aimed at bringing together the world’s brightest young scientists to encourage their continued interest in water and the environment.Each year, thousands of school students within the ages of 15 and 20 years from over 35 countries join national competitions for the chance to represent their nation at the international final held during the World Water week in Stockholm Sweden. The competition is open for projects striving to improve water quality, water resources management, water protection, water and wastewater treatment as well as water education and social related aspects of water.

A letter addressed to the state commissioner for education by the Chairman International Water Institute Young Water Professionals (IWI YWP) Nigeria, Ikechukwu Chinemerem read in part “We are pleased to inform you that five (5) projects from secondary schools in Lagos State have made it to the finals of the 2019 Nigerian Stockholm Junior Water Prize”.

The students would be competing with other national finalists from different states of Nigeria on Friday May 31 at the premises of the embassy of Sweden Abuja. The National winners that emerge would be representing Nigeria at the International finals in Stockholm Sweden in August.

There is no gainsaying that the various inventions will help in the nation’s bid to provide portable water for all, especially, people in the rural areas who have no access to pipe borne water or borehole.

“It is common knowledge that water is very crucial to sanitation and the level of sanitation in the country today still requires a lot of efforts to raise it to world standard. It is on this premise that the Lagos State government is wishing her team resounding success at the competition.”