STEM4Climate Fellowship Maps Ago Palace Way Drainage System, Donates Sanitation Equipment to Tackle Recurring Flooding

The STEM4Climate Fellowship, Nigeria’s first cohort-based climate fellowship for women in STEM, has conducted a flood, drainage and waste mapping exercise along Ago Palace Way in Okota, Lagos, generating data aimed at supporting long-term solutions to recurring flooding in the area.

The fellowship worked alongside the Lagos State Office of Drainage Services and Water Resources to assess the drainage system and desilt some of the more difficult sections. The state office also provided historical context on the drainage layout along the road.

As part of the exercise, the fellowship donated sanitation equipment to the community, including rain boots, brooms, waste pickers, dustbins and dustpans.

The exercise brought together drainage assessment, clean-up activities, waste mapping and community sensitisation. It was designed to identify flood hotspots and drainage blockages along the corridor while educating residents about platforms for reporting climate-related incidents and opportunities to generate income from recyclable waste.

Data gathered during the exercise will be used in a flood mapping report to be presented to relevant ministries and government agencies. The findings will also be shared at the State of Impact Summit 2026, which will feature the fellowship cohort’s graduation and project showcase.

Speaking during the exercise, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of the STEM4Climate Fellowship, Ini-Obong Antaih, said the project formed part of the fellowship’s practical approach to enabling women in STEM to apply their knowledge to climate-related challenges in their communities.

“As part of the programme, we decided to carry out a practical project, and we narrowed it down to Ago Palace Way because we know that we are in the rainy season and some parts of Lagos typically experience flooding. We conducted a survey and realised that even after the rain stops, Ago Palace Way remains flooded for a long time.

“We want people to understand that excessive waste on Ago Palace Way is one of the factors contributing to the flooding and that everyone has a role to play in keeping the drainage system free of waste,” she said.

The Head of Business and Project Support at the Lagos State Employment Trust Fund (LSETF), Ayobami Okanola, urged residents to view waste as a resource that could provide economic opportunities when properly collected, sorted and recycled.

The Chairman of Okota Local Council Development Area, Ogundipe Benjamin, commended the fellowship for the initiative and pledged support for continued sensitisation on proper waste disposal in the area.

Also speaking, the Chief Environmental Officer of Oshodi/Isolo Local Government, Sanitarian Ojedele Olajide, urged residents to use covered bins and refrain from dumping refuse into drainage channels, noting that blocked drains restrict the free flow of rainwater.