A First-Class graduate of Bayero University Kano (BUK), Bashir Abdullahi Sani, has emerged as one of three global winners of the 2026 Youth Innovation Challenge for his proposal to tackle marine pollution in Lagos Lagoon.
Sani was selected from 401 submissions representing 69 countries for his proposed Floating Guardians Project, a community-centred initiative aimed at reducing marine litter and protecting aquatic ecosystems.
According to a statement issued on Thursday, the award is organised by the Global Environmental Education Partnership (GEEP) in collaboration with Taiwan’s Ocean Conservation Administration, the United States Environmental Protection Agency and Taiwan’s Ministry of Environment.
The winners received $1,000 each and invitations to Taipei, Taiwan, where they attended the award ceremony and the International Forum on Marine Environment and Marine Debris Governance.
Sani graduated from BUK with a First-Class degree in Fisheries and Aquaculture, recording a cumulative grade point average of 4.80 out of 5.00.
He is the founder of AquaGenesis, a youth-led initiative that promotes environmental education, conservation awareness and community participation in protecting aquatic ecosystems.
His winning proposal seeks to use locally available bamboo to construct low-cost ecological barriers capable of intercepting floating waste before it reaches the ocean.
The project also incorporates environmental education and collaboration between young people and traditional community leaders to encourage long-term community participation in pollution prevention.
The initiative aims to move beyond periodic clean-up exercises by empowering residents to take an active role in protecting their environment.
Sani’s conservation work also includes the Makoko Participatory Resilience Initiative, which he developed through the National Geographic Society and The Nature Conservancy’s Marine and Community Conservation Externship.
The initiative, which received seed funding from the two organisations, promotes community trust and participation in environmental protection in Makoko, a waterfront community in Lagos.
Its guiding philosophy, “Trust First, Clean Lagoon,” places community ownership and local priorities at the centre of conservation efforts.
Sani also serves as Advocacy Director at Sustainable Ocean Alliance Nigeria and holds an administrative leadership position at Aquaworld Community Development Initiative, where he contributes to environmental education and community engagement.
His recognition at the international competition highlights the contribution of young Nigerians to global efforts to address marine pollution and protect aquatic biodiversity.
The 2026 Youth Innovation Challenge selected three winners from entries submitted across 69 countries, with each recipient receiving a $1,000 award and an opportunity to participate in the international forum in Taiwan.
