SPEECH BY THE EXECUTIVE GOVERNOR OF OSUN STATE, HIS EXCELLENCY SENATOR ADEMOLA JACKSON NURUDEEN ADELEKE, AT THE HANDING OVER OF OBA HILLS FOREST RESERVE TO THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO BE MANAGED AS A NATIONAL PARK ON TUESDAY, 10TH DECEMBER 2024

Protocols

It is with great pleasure that I welcome you all to this historic occasion. I also extend my warm greetings to the eminent personalities, stakeholders, and representatives of the host communities of Oba Hills National Park.

I acknowledge and appreciate all the individuals who have contributed immensely to the success of this initiative. I particularly thank those who served in various transition committees over the years. Your efforts have brought us to this milestone.
Oba Hills Forest Reserve, now to be known as Oba Hills National Park, spans about 4,225 hectares across Iwo, Ejigbo, and Ola-Oluwa Local Government Areas. This forest reserve hosts varieties of ecological value. The site is also home to five unique hills which provide habitats for diverse plants and animals.
We regret to note that some of these species are endangered due to activities such as logging, hunting, and other human factors. It was for this reason that the Osun State Government engaged the Nigerian Conservation Foundation (NCF) in April 2013 to conduct a comprehensive survey of the reserve. The findings revealed a high degree of degradation, which calls for urgent intervention.
In response, Osun State reached out to the National Park Service to propose the reserve’s upgrade to National Park status. In 2021, this request was granted. Today, we witnessed the realization of that effort.

I wish to express my profound gratitude to the Conservator-General and the entire National Park Service for their total commitment to facilitate this handover process.

As we transfer the management of Oba Hills Forest Reserve to the National Park Service, I must stress that Osun State remains deeply interested in the operations of the park. Today’s event aligns with our broader climate change agenda, as we recognize the critical role of ecosystem in reducing global warming and ensuring sustainable development.

I also urge the National Park Service to prioritise the recruitment of qualified indigenes of Osun State as officers and men to operate the park. Local content is a state policy here in Osun state. The policy strengthens benefits for local communities and facilitates local ownership. We seek enforcement of that policy in the operations of the park.

On this note, I officially hand over the Oba Hills Forest Reserve to the Honourable Minister of Environment for its transformation into a National Park, under the stewardship of the National Park Service.
Thank you all for being part of this significant moment in Osun State’s history.

God bless Osun State!
God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria!!