System Analyst
June 20, 2025
Governor Adeleke Honoured with Award of Excellence on Climate Action at OAU International Conference.
Osogbo -20/06/2025 – osunstate.gov.ng
The Executive Governor of Osun State, Senator Ademola Adeleke, has been conferred with the Award of Excellence on Climate Action at the International Conference on “Accelerating Climate Action for Sustainable Livelihoods in Nigeria,” organized by the Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Ife.
The award ceremony took place on June 17th, 2025, as part of a high-level academic conference focused on deepening Nigeria’s climate response across policy, academia, and development sectors.
Governor Adeleke was ably represented at the conference by Prof. Chinwe Obuaku-Igwe, the lead consultant to the Osun state government on Climate Change and Renewable Energy.
Delivering the Governor’s speech, Prof. Obuaku-Igwe emphasized the urgent need for subnational leadership in confronting the climate crisis, and outlined Osun State’s comprehensive environmental transformation agenda.
“In Osun State, climate action is not a peripheral concern; it is a central pillar of governance. The government is building a climate-smart ecosystem rooted in justice, equity, and innovation,” she stated on behalf of Governor Adeleke.
Key initiatives spotlighted in the address included the Onibueja Restoration Project on ecosystem renewal and watershed protection; the IMOLE Solar Lantern – One Child, One Solar Reading Lamp campaign to advance energy access and educational equity; establishment of School-Based Solar Energy Clubs and Green Clubs in secondary schools; launching of the climate education book.
Other initiatives she narrated include the release of key policy frameworks such as the Osun State Climate Action Plan, Circular Economy Action Plan, Renewable Energy Development and Regulation Policy, and the Climate Smart Investment Portfolio.
The representative of the governor listed other achievements to include the Introduction of the E-Motorcycle Pilot Initiative for sustainable transport; hosting of the Youth Climate Change Carnival; convening of a pre-conference stakeholder forum in collaboration with the Office of the SGF, and a post-conference regional workshop in partnership with the House of Representatives Committee on Renewable Energy.
She noted that Osun State has also begun the process of Carbon Verification in preparation for entry into the global carbon credit market, a move that positions the State as a forward-looking player in climate finance and carbon trading.
In receiving the award, Governor Adeleke expressed deep appreciation to the University of Ife, noting that the honor was a reflection of “the collective determination of Osun people to secure a future where climate justice and sustainable livelihoods are not aspirational, but achievable.”
The Vice Chancellor and conference organizers praised the Governor’s transformative vision, and hailed Osun’s climate achievements as a benchmark for other states across Nigeria.
Signed:
Mallam Olawale Rasheed,
Spokesperson to the State Governor.
