Office of the Director General on Climate Change

On Friday, 23 October 2026, I had the honour of representing His Excellency, Senator Ademola Jackson Nurudeen Adeleke, Governor of Osun State, at the First National Volunteer Conference of Nigeria, organised by the United Nations Volunteers (UNV) in collaboration with the Ondo State Government in Akure. Held under the theme “Every Contribution Matters,” the conference was a timely reminder that nation-building is not the responsibility of government alone. It is a collective endeavour powered by people who give their time, skills, knowledge and resources to make life better for others. As a former volunteer and someone who understands the value of volunteerism, I know that meaningful change does not always begin with grand gestures. Sometimes, it begins with one person choosing to show up, one community choosing to act, or one individual deciding that someone else’s wellbeing matters. From community development and environmental sustainability to youth empowerment, social inclusion and climate action, volunteerism remains a powerful instrument for building resilient communities and advancing sustainable development. My message was simple: we must move beyond celebrating volunteers to building systems that recognise, support and sustain their contributions. Volunteerism should be deliberately integrated into our development agenda, with opportunities for young people and community actors to contribute meaningfully to national progress. I was particularly encouraged by the spirit of engagement and the recognition that every contribution, regardless of its size, has the potential to create lasting impact. And, in a rather amusing Akure moment, on my way out of the conference, I encountered some enthusiastic Imole supporters who had watched me deliver HE’s speech. They were quick to tell me I had swag like the Governor! 😂 We exchanged pleasantries, danced a little, and I left with a smile. A reminder that public service, at its heart, is about people and the connections we build with them. ❤️ My appreciation goes to the United Nations Volunteers and the Ondo State Government for convening this important gathering. Every contribution matters. Every volunteer counts. And every act of service brings us closer to the Nigeria we aspire to build. #Volunteerism #UNVolunteers #EveryContributionMatters #SustainableDevelopment #CommunityDevelopment #PublicService #OsunState

CONTINUING RAINS IN OSUN: ASSESSMENT, PREPAREDNESS AND COLLECTIVE ACTION The rains are continuing across parts of Osun State, and the safety of our people must remain a priority. Earlier today, I undertook a preliminary assessment in Ede North Local Government Area ahead of the proposed stakeholder meeting directed by His Excellency, the Governor. This exercise forms part of the ongoing effort to better understand local conditions, identify concerns and inform practical, evidence-based responses to flooding and its associated risks. With further showers and possible thunderstorms forecast for Ede over the coming days, residents are encouraged to remain vigilant and take appropriate precautions. Please avoid walking or driving through floodwaters, keep drainage channels and culverts free of refuse, and pay particular attention to low-lying areas and locations with a history of flooding. Residents should also secure important documents and household essentials and promptly report blocked drains, rising water levels or dangerous road conditions to the relevant authorities. Flood management requires more than emergency responses after rainfall. It calls for careful assessment, functioning drainage infrastructure, responsible waste management, reliable early warnings and coordinated action across government, communities and other stakeholders. Our next steps must be informed by what residents experience on the ground and by the evidence gathered through these assessments. The objective is to strengthen preparedness, reduce exposure to flood risks and develop practical, sustainable solutions that protect lives, livelihoods and public infrastructure. Please stay alert, look out for one another and follow official weather and emergency advisories. Your safety matters.

Today, 17 October, marks the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty. Yesterday, we were out inspecting the site of a development project in Osun State, one with the potential to create employment and expand livelihood opportunities for our people. The timing is particularly significant because poverty eradication cannot be achieved through declarations alone. It requires deliberate investments in productive capacity, job creation, enterprise development and the institutions that enable people to participate meaningfully in economic life. From a development perspective, employment is not simply about earning an income. It is also about dignity, agency, social mobility and the capacity of households to meet their needs without remaining trapped in cycles of vulnerability and dependency. This is why development projects must be assessed not only by the infrastructure they deliver or the capital they attract, but also by the economic opportunities they create, the livelihoods they sustain and the extent to which their benefits reach ordinary people. For Osun, our task is to translate development investments into tangible improvements in people’s lives. This means creating pathways to productive employment, strengthening local economic activity and ensuring that growth is both inclusive and sustainable. Ultimately, poverty eradication is not merely about lifting people above a statistical poverty line; it is about expanding their capabilities, strengthening their economic agency and creating the conditions in which they can live with dignity and opportunity. That is the development question we must continually ask: not simply what are we building, but what economic and social transformation will it make possible for our people? #InternationalDayForTheEradicationOfPoverty #OsunState #InclusiveDevelopment #SustainableLivelihoods

I am delighted to share that Osun State’s Imole Solar Lamp has received a Special recognition at the 2026 IEEE Smart Cities Awards! This international recognition places Osun among innovative cities and regions from across the world acknowledged for advancing smarter, more sustainable and resilient communities. For me, this recognition represents something much bigger than an award. It affirms a philosophy that has consistently shaped my work in climate governance and renewable energy: climate action must move beyond policy documents and international commitments to deliver tangible improvements in people’s everyday lives. What does a smart city mean to a community struggling with energy access? What does climate innovation mean to a young person seeking opportunity, a small business owner trying to grow, or a family looking for safer and more reliable lighting? These are the questions that should shape our understanding of sustainable development. Under the administration of His Excellency, Governor Ademola Adeleke, Osun State continues to pursue a development pathway that connects renewable energy, climate action, circular economy innovation and inclusive growth. As Director-General and Special Envoy of the Governor of Osun State on Climate Change and Renewable Energy, I believe deeply that Africa must not merely participate in the global conversation about smart cities. We must help redefine that conversation, drawing on our realities, our ingenuity and our understanding of what our people truly need. Our cities do not have to replicate every model developed elsewhere. We can build solutions that are technologically relevant, socially responsive, environmentally sustainable and grounded in the lived experiences of our communities. The Imole Solar Lamp recognition is an encouraging affirmation of that vision. My appreciation goes to IEEE Smart Cities and the distinguished international jury for recognising this initiative, and to everyone contributing to Osun State’s climate and renewable-energy journey. From Osun to the world, we are demonstrating that innovation can be people-centred, climate-conscious and locally rooted while earning global recognition. This is the work. This is the vision. And we are only getting started. #OsunState #ImoleSolarLamp #SmartCities #IEEE #ClimateAction #RenewableEnergy #ClimateLeadership #SustainableDevelopment #AfricanInnovation #CircularEconomy