About us
About us
Lagoon Environmental Sustainability Initiative (LESI) is an NGO based in Lagos, Nigeria, that aims to promote the environmental sustainability of the Lagos Lagoon system and, by extension, the greater Lagos Megacity.
We tackle Nigeria’s most pressing ecological challenges by safeguarding lagoon ecosystems, restoring biodiversity, and empowering communities to adopt sustainable practices that benefit both people and nature.
Collaboration is at the heart of our mission. By building strong alliances with communities, businesses, and policymakers, we advocate responsible use of lagoon resources and foster a shared understanding of sustainable development. Together, we strive to create a resilient future where environmental stewardship and human well-being go hand in hand.
Our Vision
Our vision is to create a collaborative platform and alliance for multiple stakeholders to enhance the resilience of communities, ecosystems, and economies dependent on the lagoon, and ensure sustainable practices for the lagoon’s long-term well-being.
Create an alliance to promote a broad-based understanding of sustainable development opportunities and advocate for a new orientation in the use of lagoon resources.
Promote the development of the community resilience strategy and turn it into rapid action for the lagoon communities.
Develop effective solutions and platforms for fair transition to green and blue lagoon economy.
Push the boundaries to find new answers to complex lagoon environmental problems, including pollution, degradation and over-exploitation of its resources.
From Strategy to Action: Resilience for Lagos and the Lagoon
The Lagoon represents a significant natural resource that, over time, has been neglected in its direct and beneficial use, yet has also been severely abused and degraded through poor management and utilisation. As the extraction of available natural resources expands and competition for space and use intensifies, the pressure on the Lagoon will inevitably drive inequality, injustice, and climate change, with serious consequences for the rural, low-income, and indigenous communities living on the Lagoon and within its watershed.
We are focused on ensuring that the Lagoon community gains both social and economic benefits from sustainable and effective government decisions addressing the climate and nature crises. Through collaborative partnerships with people, communities, and government, we support the implementation of the 2020 Resilience Strategy to build a safe, sustainable, and inclusive Lagos.
We’re proud to be the organisation that spearheaded the initiative behind the Lagos Resilience Strategy — a landmark plan shaping a safer, more sustainable, and inclusive future for the city. Our pioneering spirit also led to the Lagos Medical Waste Management project, developed in partnership with the Lagos Waste Management Authority, setting new standards for environmental health.
Today, our focus is on empowering communities that border the Lagoon in Lagos State. By advancing resilience and action plans at the grassroots level, we’re helping local voices lead the way in protecting ecosystems, strengthening livelihoods, and building a future where people and nature thrive together.
Our Board of Trustees
Our Board of Trustees provides the vision and guidance that drive our mission to protect and sustain Lagos’s lagoon. With a shared commitment to stewardship and transparency, they ensure our work remains impactful, accountable, and aligned with the long-term health of this vital ecosystem.
Professor Olawale AJAI
Professor of Legal, Social & Political environment of Business, Lagos Business School | Pan-Atlantic University (formerly Pan-African University
Lagos, Nigeria.
Dr Enoabasi Deborah ANWANA (Late)
Associate Professor of Community-Based Natural Resource Management, Wetland Ecology and Biodiversity Conservation, University of Uyo
Akwa Ibom, Nigeria.
Mr. Babatunde A. SODIPO, SAN
Partner, Ajumogobia & Okeke Ltd
Sterling Towers, Lagos, Nigeria.
Mr. Olumide AKINSOLA
Executive Director, Environmental Management / Multilateral Climate & Environmental Finance
Badore Road, Ajah, Lagos, Nigeria.
Let's work together
Have questions, ideas, or want to join our mission? Reach out today and be part of the movement for a greener, cleaner, and more sustainable future. Whether you’re a volunteer, partner, or supporter, your voice matters.