A charity-supported educational institution in Lagos State, Slum2School Green Academy, has secured a place among the Top 10 finalists globally for the 2026 World’s Best School Prize for Environmental Action.
According to The Punch, the announcement was made by T4 Education on Thursday, June 26.
The organisation oversees the World’s Best School Prizes, an international initiative that honours schools delivering outstanding contributions in areas including environmental action, innovation, and community development.
Situated in Saga, a remote riverine community in Epe, Lagos State, the academy earned global recognition for successfully integrating quality education with environmentally sustainable practices for children living in underserved communities.
School established to tackle education barriers in riverine communities
Slum2School Green Academy was founded to overcome the educational difficulties experienced by children residing in isolated, water-locked settlements.
Prior to its establishment, many pupils were forced to travel long distances by canoe before they could attend formal classes.
Today, the academy provides education for 250 children drawn from eight riverine communities, offering a learning environment that blends classroom instruction with practical environmental engagement.
The school adopts an inquiry-based, hands-on teaching approach which, according to the organisers, has enabled some students to achieve as much as three years’ worth of academic progress within a single school year.
Why the Lagos school stands out
Designed with locally sourced bamboo and wood, the academy operates as a climate-friendly institution.
The school is powered entirely by solar energy, harvests rainwater, and relies on waste-to-biogas technology to generate clean cooking gas.
Each year, it produces approximately 28,000 kilowatt-hours of electricity, collects up to 160,000 litres of rainwater, and generates about 1,400 cubic metres of clean cooking gas through its waste management systems.
Students actively participate in environmental initiatives that include gardening, composting, recycling, and converting water hyacinth into useful products that can be sold.
To further enhance learning, the academy also offers digital learning resources, coding education, and access to a library.
Learning results and community impact
T4 Education stated that the academy has achieved notable improvements in student performance.
According to the organisation, 96 per cent of students advanced by at least one literacy level, while more than 70 per cent recorded progress in numeracy.
It also said more than 90 per cent of pupils are now reading at or close to their expected grade level, despite many starting with little or no basic learning skills.
The school’s impact extends beyond its classrooms, with its programmes benefiting more than 700 families through access to clean water, sanitation assistance, and environmental awareness initiatives.
