The Lagos State Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources has commenced registration for the maiden edition of the Lagos Cleaner Energy Schools Innovation Challenge 2026, a programme designed to promote clean energy innovation among secondary school students.

The initiative was disclosed in a statement on Friday signed by the ministry’s Director of Public Affairs, Mrs Adetola Idowu. According to the statement, the competition is open to eligible Senior Secondary School One and Senior Secondary School Two students from Education Districts I, II, and III.

Speaking on the initiative, the Commissioner for Energy and Mineral Resources, Biodun Ogunleye, said the programme is intended to encourage innovation and develop future talent for the energy sector.

According to him, “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.”

He added, “Our vision is to build an innovation ecosystem where students understand that their ideas matter and that the government is committed to supporting innovation from the classroom to real-world impact.”

Under the competition guidelines, participating schools are required to form teams comprising five students, a supervising teacher, and a mentor. The teams will develop practical clean energy solutions within designated technical tracks and compete at district-level contests before advancing to the state championship.

Ogunleye said the initiative is expected to encourage critical thinking, creativity and collaboration among students while supporting the development of solutions to Nigeria’s energy challenges.

According to the ministry, the programme also aligns with the Lagos State Government’s THEMES+ Agenda by promoting Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics education, youth development and clean energy innovation.

The ministry urged eligible secondary schools across the three education districts to constitute their teams, appoint supervising teachers and mentors, and complete registration through the official application portal.

Further information on eligibility requirements, competition guidelines, and the registration process is available on the Lagos State Government’s official website.

Arinze Nwafor