A 14-year-old student of Kings College, Lagos, Adejoke Samson, on Monday emerged winner of Eco-Friendly Art Contest organised by Eko Hotel and Suites, Lagos.
He beat nine other contestants drawn from different secondary schools in Lagos to win the grand prize of N250, 000.
The first and second runners-up, representing British International School and Holy Child College, went home with N150,000 and N100,000 respectively, while other participants received an Apple IPad each as consolation prize.
The 10 participating schools were drawn from Eti-Osa Local Government Area.
Speaking at the grand finale of the maiden edition of the competition, the Managing Director of Eko Hotel, Ghassan Faddoul, said for Nigeria to achieve the desired change it must start with the future leaders of the country.
He also harped on the need to protect the environment.
“The change must start at home, change our habit of how to care for our wastes and imbue such in the children.
“An eco friendly committee was developed by the hotel to get a genuine cause to make a better environment which is our paramount aim and objective.
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“All stakeholders must come together to partner and get all types of reforms or laws that will encourage us to improve and continue the trend of protecting the environment.
“Other stakeholders in the industry should also look into the future on how to eliminate the use of plastic in the waste and protect the ocean from waste,” Faddoul said.
An environmental expert and one of the judges at the event, Mr Taiwo Adewole, called on other organisations and corporate bodies in the hospitality business to take a cue from Eko Hotel and follow suit.
He said: “The opportunity was given to both private and public schools at the local government, such can be extended to tertiary institutions thereby coming up with solutions through research on tackling environmental issues.”
