Building Research Capacity Through Environmental and Public Health Research
Our project, “Beneath Urban Growth: Landfill-Driven Groundwater Vulnerability and Waterborne Disease Risk in Lagos, Nigeria,” began as a mentorship-driven research initiative focused on environmental sustainability and public health challenges associated with rapid urbanization in Lagos State, Nigeria. As the founder of the initiative and research supervisor, I guided the collaborative study while supporting student researchers in developing technical and analytical skills in environmental research. Toyin Comfort Akinleu led the geospatial vulnerability assessment using GIS and Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis (MCDA), while Mariam Rasaq focused on statistical and epidemiological analysis using General Linear Modelling (GLM).

Together, the project combined geospatial analysis, hydrogeological assessment, and public health research to better understand groundwater vulnerability and waterborne disease risk in rapidly urbanizing communities. Beyond the scientific outcomes, the initiative created a collaborative learning environment where students gained hands-on experience in GIS, statistical modelling, scientific communication, and interdisciplinary environmental research.

As part of the project’s dissemination efforts, the initial stage of the study was presented at the Nigerian Association of Petroleum Explorationists–Nigerian Mining and Geosciences Society (NAPE–NMGS) Mini Conference in 2025 by student researcher Toyin Comfort Akinleu, with subsequent conference presentations and ongoing publication efforts further advancing the work.