Slum2School Green Academy, a charity-supported school in Lagos State, has earned global recognition after being named among the Top 10 finalists for the 2026 World’s Best School Prize for Environmental Action.
The announcement was made by T4 Education, organisers of the internationally acclaimed World’s Best School Prizes, often described as the “World Cup for Schools.”
Located in Saga, a remote riverine community in Epe, the academy was recognised for its innovative approach to combining quality education with environmental sustainability for children from underserved communities.
The school currently serves about 250 pupils drawn from eight riverine communities and uses an experiential, inquiry-based learning model that has enabled many students to achieve up to three years of academic progress within a single school year.
Founder of T4 Education, Vikas Pota, congratulated the academy on its global recognition, stating that the achievement reflects the high standard of education being delivered by schools in Nigeria.
He noted that the shortlisted schools have demonstrated exceptional leadership in preparing students to tackle global challenges such as climate change, inequality, and conflict through innovative teaching methods.
According to T4 Education, the World’s Best School Prizes celebrate excellence in five categories: Community Collaboration, Environmental Action, Innovation, Overcoming Adversity, and Supporting Healthy Lives.
While winners in each category will be selected by an expert judging panel, all 50 shortlisted schools will also compete in a public vote for the Community Choice Award. The Top Three finalists and overall winners are expected to be announced in November.
Established to provide access to education in one of Nigeria’s most isolated water-locked communities, Slum2School Green Academy was created to eliminate the long and difficult canoe journeys children previously made to attend school.
The environmentally friendly campus was constructed using locally sourced bamboo and wood and operates entirely on renewable energy.
The academy generates approximately 28,000 kilowatt-hours of solar electricity annually, harvests around 160,000 litres of rainwater each year, and operates waste-to-biogas systems capable of producing about 1,400 cubic metres of clean cooking gas annually.
Students also participate in practical environmental activities, including gardening, recycling, composting, and transforming water hyacinth into useful products, while benefiting from access to digital learning facilities, coding education, and a well-equipped library.
T4 Education reported that 96 per cent of learners have improved by at least one literacy proficiency level, while over 70 per cent have recorded progress in numeracy. More than 90 per cent of pupils are now reading at or close to their expected grade level despite beginning with limited foundational skills.
The organisation added that the school’s community initiatives have positively impacted more than 700 families through improved access to clean water, sanitation, and environmental awareness programmes.
According to T4 Education, the academy’s success provides a scalable model for sustainable and community-driven education across Africa, proving that educational excellence, innovation, and climate action can flourish even in some of the continent’s most underserved communities.
The shortlisted schools and eventual winners will attend the World Schools Summit in London on January 16 and 17, 2027, where they will share their experiences and best practices with education leaders and policymakers from around the world.
