After a trip to Makoko in 2009, Adeyemi was inspired to improve
upon the main primary school that served the waterside
settlement. His design, which will accommodate 100 students,
will use 256 plastic drums to keep it resting on top of the
water, and the frame will be constructed with locally-sourced
wood. Electricity would be provided by solar panels on the roof,
and rainwater harvesting would help operate toilets. The school
is nearly finished, and the entire cost should total around
$6,250. Projects like Adeyemi’s could be the beginning of a
trend followed throughout coastal Africa. “The building can be
adapted for other uses, such as homes or hospitals. Ultimately,
it’s a vision that can be used to sustainably develop [African]
coastal communities.” said Adeyemi. While the government is
reluctant to permanently establish the dozens of settlements in
the city’s waters, tentative backing has been given by local
officials. In recent years, nearby cities in Lagos have been
reclaiming the water using land pump