Lagos: The Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency (LASEPA) has urged technical students to embrace sustainable cooling practices to protect the ozone layer and environment. LASEPA made this known in a statement issued by its Head of Public Affairs Unit, Mr Adesoye Oyelami, and made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Friday. This announcement followed an Ozone Layer Protection Training and Sensitisation Workshop held at Lagos State Technical College, Obafemi Awolowo, Ikorodu, on Thursday.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, the workshop was organised as part of activities marking the 2026 World Ozone Day, with the theme: ‘Global Action for a Cooler Planet.’ The theme highlights 10 years of sustainable cooling under the Kigali Amendment to the Montreal Protocol. LASEPA’s General Manager, Dr Babatunde Ajayi, represented by Mrs Adedayo Adebayo, Director, Environmental Sustainability Unit, stated that cooling systems were essential to everyday life. Ajayi mentioned that the agency was at the college to equip students with knowledge of environmentally responsible practices in the cooling sector. He noted that refrigerators, freezers, and air conditioners supported food preservation, healthcare, vaccine storage, and thermal comfort. The growing demand for cooling made sustainable technologies and environmentally responsible practices increasingly important.
Ajayi encouraged the students to become ambassadors of environmental sustainability by sharing knowledge from the workshop with their families and communities. “We are here to impart knowledge and teach you best practices in the cooling sector,” he said. He emphasized that global action is not limited to one person, an individual, or a company, but starts from all of us.
The Principal of the college, Mr Babajide Soewu, praised LASEPA for exposing students to ozone protection and sustainable cooling practices. Soewu stated that the programme would broaden students’ understanding of environmental responsibilities and emerging practices in the technical sector. He urged the students to apply the knowledge gained and provide feedback to the school on lessons learned from the programme.
Mr Adeyinka Adebiyi, Director of BIMSUL Consults and Safety and Health Expert, also addressed the students on occupational safety in the cooling sector. His presentation, titled ‘Working Safely for a Cooler Planet,’ focused on safe practices for heating, ventilation, air conditioning, and refrigeration (HVAC/R) practitioners. Adebiyi stressed the need for technical personnel to protect themselves, their colleagues, and the environment while carrying out their duties.
The Chief Revenue Officer of Global Koolboks Ltd., a sponsor of the programme, commended LASEPA for taking the awareness campaign to technical students. The company demonstrated an energy-efficient freezer powered by solar energy and battery storage during the practical session. Students also participated in a battery assembly exercise aimed at exposing them to technical components used in sustainable cooling systems. The winning team received a one-month internship opportunity and a 20,000 cash prize. The second and third-place teams received 10,000 and 5,000, respectively.