The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Osun govt

  • Osun govt rallies 35 states to adopt FG’s climate policy to win investors, boost clean energy

    Osun govt rallies 35 states to adopt FG’s climate policy to win investors, boost clean energy

    The Osun state government has called on the 35 states of the federation to urgently adopt and domesticate the federal government’s newly approved National Carbon Market and Carbon Investment Framework.

    The Osun government warned that states that fail to align their policies with the national climate agenda risk losing billions of naira in potential carbon revenue and missing out on investments that could accelerate clean energy development, climate adaptation, and economic growth.

    The government, through its Director-General and Special Envoy of the Governor of Osun State on Climate Change and Renewable Energy, Professor Chinwe Obuaku-Igwe, in a statement on Wednesday, recommended that states must pass a State Climate Policy and domesticate the Climate Change Act (2021).

    She noted that the approval signalled federal government readiness to unlock carbon finance as a legitimate engine for growth, resilience, and sustainability.

    “This new carbon investment framework will remain an elegant federal document unless sub-national governments seize the moment and create the policies, institutions, and safeguards required to translate national ambition into local impact.

    “We (states) celebrate federal approval, but fail to build the state-level systems that make implementation possible. The climate crisis and the opportunity of carbon finance demand that we change this pattern.

    “The approval of a national carbon framework opens the door to billions of dollars in potential carbon revenue. Properly managed, it could finance adaptation projects, restore degraded ecosystems, electrify transport, modernize agriculture, and support clean energy expansion across the country.

    Prof Obuaku-Igwe held that, “States that act now will win; states that hesitate will watch opportunities move elsewhere. States control the very sectors that define our carbon footprint and resilience capacity, including land-use and forestry; Agriculture and food systems; urban planning and building codes; Waste management; Transport systems; Local energy access and Community development.”

    She added, “Sub-national governments must avoid the temptation to treat carbon revenue as windfall income. Carbon markets punish shortcuts: poor baselines, weak social safeguards, coerced community consent, and opaque revenue use can all result in project reversal, market rejection, or even blacklisting.

    “States must design robust governance systems now, not as an afterthought, to avoid repeating the mistakes seen in other developing countries where poorly managed carbon projects collapsed amid scandal.

    “The approval of the carbon investment framework is historic, but history will judge us on whether Nigeria can turn policy into practice. If states rise to the moment with seriousness, transparency, and innovation, we could witness one of the largest climate-driven development transformations in Africa. The time for decisive sub-national action is now.”

  • Osun Govt seeks parents, alumni partnership on education

    Osun Govt seeks parents, alumni partnership on education

    The Osun state government has urged parents and alumni associations in schools across the state to deepen their involvement in the educational sector, saying the sustainability of quality education cannot be done by the government alone.

    Speaking at the 40th anniversary of the 1985 set of Gbongan Community High School, Gbongan, the Commissioner for Education, Hon. Eluwole Adedipo, who reaffirmed Governor Adeleke’s administration’s commitment to revamping education, said alumni, parents, and community leaders must continue to play stronger roles.

    The commissioner, who was represented by the Executive Secretary and Zonal Inspector of Education, Mojeed Ganiyu, said education is the core of human development, and for it to truly be impactful, parents, old students, and communities must complement government efforts.

    He stated that no reform can thrive without strong alumni support, commending the ’85 set alumni for employing teachers, awarding scholarships, and renovating facilities to fill gaps created by staffing shortages.

    Read Also: Osun govt demolishes 30 houses blocking waterways to avert flooding 

    The guest lecturer, Dr. Hezekiah Olaniran from the University of Ibadan, lamented the decline in the quality of secondary education in Nigeria, citing poor teacher training, social media distractions, and challenges posed by AI as factors worsening student performance.

    Earlier in his welcome address, the director general of the 1985 set, Aremo Olusegun Oyindasola, expressed concern over the persistent shortage of teachers in the school, saying the alumni had employed about 15 teachers to support learning in the last eight years.

    Meanwhile, Revd (Major) Femi Olojede, the 1985 Senior Prefect (Boys), in his speech, recalled how his years in Gbongan Community High School prepared him for discipline and leadership.

    On her part, Chief (Mrs.) Bukola Oni, who was the Senior Prefect (Girls) in 1985, paid tribute to the teachers who shaped her life, urging current students not to see their background as a limitation to success.

  • Osun govt urges mothers to prioritise infants over husbands in breastfeeding campaign

    Osun govt urges mothers to prioritise infants over husbands in breastfeeding campaign

    As part of activities marking the 2025 World Breastfeeding Week, the Osun State Government has called on nursing mothers to prioritise their infants over their husbands when it comes to breastfeeding, warning against giving babies herbs within the first six months of life.

    Speaking during a one-day seminar on exclusive breastfeeding, the State Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, Kolapo Alimi, alongside the State Nutrition Officer, Oluwakemi Popoola, discouraged the use of artificial foods for infants, stressing the importance of exclusive breastfeeding.

    In his address, Alimi noted that many nursing mothers are becoming distracted from properly breastfeeding their children due to the demands of daily survival and economic pressures.

    “This programme is important to this government because breastfeeding is a key factor in the development of infants,” he said. “We have noticed that advocacy and enlightenment on this issue are not enough in Osun State. That is why Governor Ademola Adeleke approved this programme.”

    He added, “We understand the economic situation is tough, and mothers are also contributing to household upkeep, but this should not be a reason to neglect breastfeeding. Sometimes, there might be competition between the man and the baby — please give priority to the baby. Don’t deprive the child.”

    Alimi advised mothers to breastfeed at least 12 times daily for the first six months, saying this significantly aids brain development and overall growth.

    Corroborating his view, Mrs Oluwakemi Popoola stressed the long-term benefits of breastfeeding, noting that it supports a child’s cognitive development, which ultimately contributes to national development.

    She warned, “We must breastfeed our child exclusively without any water, herbs or any other food for the first six months. After this period, do not give any processed food. We advocate for locally affordable, available food that we eat in our community.

    Read Also: Osun govt partners automobile firms on state security, others  

    “The baby is going to be healthy. The mother as well is going to be healthy. The father himself will not have to spend money on breast milk substitutes thereby saving money that is supposed to be spent on those artificial foods for other older children.”

    Popoola said “breastfeeding will save environment because there won’t be litter of artificial food which can breed an unhealthy society which is a precipitator to sickness.” 

    “There are stages of breastfeeding — and the very first one is the colostrum that the baby gets, which is rich in antibodies and that serves as the first immunisation the baby gets. A baby that is well fed with colostrum is going to be strong. All the immunoglobins, all the vitamins, the minerals like cassium, potasium that the child needs — is going to get it, and the child is fit for the world.”

  • Osun Govt seeks NOA partnership for grassroots climate change advocacy

    Osun Govt seeks NOA partnership for grassroots climate change advocacy

    The Osun State Government has expressed readiness to collaborate with the National Orientation Agency (NOA) to enhance climate change awareness and advocacy at the grassroots level.

    This was disclosed by the Special Assistant to the Osun State Governor on Renewable Energy, Funmiso Babarinde, during a Climate Equity programme held in Ede.

    The event was organised by the Youth in Agroecology and Restoration Network (YARN), NET HOPE, and Ushahidi, Kenya, in collaboration with community-based organisations, government ministries, farmers, and local leaders.

    Addressing participants, Babarinde stressed the need to integrate community voices into local climate policies and strengthen grassroots capacity for climate action.

    “I want to use this opportunity to call on NOA to work with the Federal Ministry of Information and the State Ministry of Information to design a framework for grassroots advocacy,” he said. “Climate change is no longer just a scientific concern—it is a reality affecting us all.”

    Read Also: Osun govt laments deterioration of mega schools

    He advocated for climate change messaging in local languages, training for media practitioners in climate reporting, and the inclusion of Nollywood and music industry figures in public campaigns for greater impact and sustainability.

    Babarinde also revealed that the Osun State Government has developed a policy framework and programmes aimed at engaging young people in climate advocacy and training across the state.

    “We hosted a stakeholders engagement workshop for the Africa Multilateral infrastructure and Climate Change summit, South West stakeholders roundtable summit on Renewable Energy, among other initiatives like distribution of Solar lanterns to School children especially in rural communities, to aid their education among so many interventions by the state government in the emerging sector.”

  • Osun govt laments deterioration of mega schools

    Osun govt laments deterioration of mega schools

    Osun State government has lamented that the deterioration of the 11 mega schools constructed with N16.5 billion under the administration of Rauf Aregbesola, have made pupils to abandon them, leading to a surge in the number of out-of-school children.

    The schools with modern designs were built under the government of Aregbesola to tackle the menace and make education attractive.

    Barely eight years after the project was inaugurated, the government said some of the structures are near collapse, and will require huge sums to renovate.

    Commissioner for Education, Adedipo Eluwole, who spoke at the World Day Against Child Labour, said education under the past administration, witnessed hooliganism, vandalism, raping, cultism, among others, until Governor Ademola Adeleke assumed duty.

    He said: “There are a lot of problems to correct from the past administrations, it is not a small deal. The past government made terrible mistakes.They continued building mega schools and merging them, which are giving us problems now. It is impossible to maintain those schools.The money to maintain one school, we can use is enough to take care of the schools in a local government area.

    Read Also: Osun govt laments deterioration of Aregbesola’s mega schools

    “The mega school in Ayedaade is almost collapsing, We sent people to assess it, and when they came back, they gave the government a bill of N480million for renovation. All these small classrooms of three blocks, we can use N12million to renovate them. You can imagine how many classrooms that type of money(N480million) can save. It is a problem for us. This is what contributed to out-of-school children in Osun State.”

    He explained that schools are built nearby so that children can access them without travelling long distances.

    He added: “When they(past administrations) merged schools, pupils from Owode were asked to go to Fakunle at the stadium; so, this discouraged the parents and they made their children sit at home.This is why Osun was the home of out-of-school children.”

    He noted that the government of Adeleke has developed several initiatives to encourage school enrolment, which yielded positive results last year, leading to the enrolment of 11,000 children.

  • Osun govt laments deterioration of Aregbesola’s mega schools

    Osun govt laments deterioration of Aregbesola’s mega schools

    The Osun State Government has raised concerns over the poor state of eleven mega schools built at a cost of N16.5 billion under former Governor Rauf Aregbesola, describing their maintenance as a major challenge contributing to the rising number of out-of-school children in the state.

    The schools, constructed with modern facilities to make education attractive and reduce dropout rates, are now in varying states of disrepair, barely eight years after their commissioning.

    Speaking during the 2025 World Day against Child Labour, the Commissioner for Education, Adedipo Eluwole, said some of the mega structures are near collapse and require costly renovations.

    Citing the example of the Mega School in Ayedaade, he revealed that the government received a N480 million renovation estimate for the facility.

    Read Also: The week of rewriting Nigeria’s social contract, refocusing ECOWAS

    “In contrast, we can renovate three-block classroom buildings for as little as N12 million. With N480 million, imagine how many functional classrooms we can restore. These mega schools are becoming a burden,” Eluwole stated.

    He attributed the growing number of out-of-school children in the state to the policy of merging schools and relocating students far from their communities.

    “When students from Owode were directed to attend school at Fakunle near the stadium, many parents simply chose to keep their children at home due to distance and logistics,” he explained.

    Eluwole also blamed the previous administration for creating an educational environment plagued by hooliganism, vandalism, cultism, and sexual violence until the current administration, led by Governor Ademola Adeleke, took over.

    He noted that the Adeleke administration has introduced reforms aimed at reversing the trend, resulting in the successful enrollment of 11,000 out-of-school children in 2024 alone.

  • Osun govt slams APC national secretary over state of emergency call

    Osun govt slams APC national secretary over state of emergency call

    The Osun State Government has condemned the National Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Ajibola Basiru, for advocating a State of Emergency in the state over the ongoing dispute regarding local government administration.

    Basiru had earlier warned Governor Ademola Adeleke to learn from the crisis in Rivers State, suggesting that a State of Emergency might be necessary due to resistance against the reinstatement of council chairmen.

    However, Osun Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, Kolapo Alimi, dismissed Basiru’s remarks as “callous, self-centered, and unlawful.” 

    He argued that the political situations in Rivers and Osun were not comparable, warning Basiru and the APC against destabilizing the state’s peace in a bid to reclaim power.

    Alimi criticised his call for federal intervention, insisting that Osun remains stable and does not warrant emergency measures.

    “While the call, no doubt stems from a demented mind as is the case with Senator Ajibola Basiru is, it will be recalled that the same Basiru had in the not too recent past made a similar call when I engaged him on a national television station on the Yes/No local government chairmen in Osun state. 

    Read Also: Osun govt warns against invasion by ‘sacked’ council executives

    “It must, however, be emphasized that not only Basiru alone holds this senseless and obnoxious impression but the entire APC cohorts and their members in Osun state, who on a daily basis, are scheming for one mischievous device or the other in order to come through the backdoor to take the reigns of governance in Osun state but by the grace of God and with the support of the people of Osun state for the administration of Ademola Adeleke, all the evil machinations against the people oriented government of Ademola Adeleke will not see the light of the day. 

    “Furthermore, we call on our President, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu to see through the antics of people like Ajibola Basiru, a rejected and frustrated politician and his already rejected APC apologists in Osun, by rejecting the wicked and baseless call for the declaration of the state of emergency in Osun.”

  • Osun govt, APC differ over reinstatement of sacked party’s council chairmen

    Osun govt, APC differ over reinstatement of sacked party’s council chairmen

    Osun State Government and the All Progressives Congress (APC) yesterday locked horns following the reinstatement of sacked local government chairmen by the Court of Appeal in Akure.

    The chairmen were elected under the APC platform of by voice votes at the twilight of the administration of former Governor Adegboyega Oyetola in November 2022.

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) urged the Federal High Court to nullify the election.

    Subsequently, Justice Nathaniel Emmanuel-Ayoola, declared the election null and void on the ground that the conduct of the election contravenes Sections 29 & 32 of the Electoral Act, 2022, hence the APC appealed the matter.

    Reacting to the development through Information Commissioner Kolapo Alimi, the state government said there is no judgment restoring the APC chairmen into the various councils because of the previous stance of courts and constitution.

    He said: “Consequently, we urge the security operatives to arrest and prosecute anybody, no matter how highly placed, who may want to disrupt the current peace being enjoyed in our dear state.”

    Also, the Chairman of Osun State Independent Electoral Commission(OSIEC), Hashim Abioye, called for calm and urged all political parties to go about their peaceful campaigns towards the February 22nd LG poll.

    APC Legal Adviser Chief Adegoke Ogunsola berated the government and OSIEC chair for confusing residents of the state after the Court of Appeal reinstated council helmsmen.

    Read Also: Edo APC chair accuses PDP members of spreading falsehood

    He said: “They deliberately set out to misrepresent the purport and import of the decision of the Court of Appeal in the appeal decided today, the 10th day of February 2025 as if the said decision did not reinstate the wrongly sacked APC Local Government Chairmen and Councilors.”

    In another statement, by its State Chairman Tajudeen Lawal, the APC in a statement commended the judiciary for reinstating the elected council chairmen and councilors, who were chased out of office by Governor Ademola Adeleke’s government over two years ago.

  • Group, Osun govt bicker over poor fiscal performance

    Group, Osun govt bicker over poor fiscal performance

    A Disagreement has broken out between a social-political group and Osun State government over an alleged poor fiscal performance of the state under the administration of Governor Ademola Adeleke.

    The group, Osun Progressive Vanguard (OPV) under the All Progressives Congress (APC) condemned Adeleke noting that his administration has taken Osun backward by 10 years.

    The group stated that the Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) is dwindling as the state recorded poor value-added tax generation and a flawed budgeting system.

    A statement jointly signed by the group’s coordinator and publicity secretary,  Oluwole Fashoyin, and Miftau Adebowale, expressed sadness over the state of affairs in the state.

    Read Also: Young Nigerians in politics (2)

    The statement read in part:  “It is saddening to see Osun in a continuous slide, steadily slipping backward. The state’s ranking in IGR collection dropped from 16th in 2022 to 20th in 2023, while neighboring Ekiti State, which had been far behind, recorded a 75% growth, jumping from 26th position in 2022 to 15th in 2023.

    “Ekiti State, with a population of around half of Osun’s, recorded 29.58 billion naira in Value-added Tax generation, compared to Osun’s 14.79 billion naira in 2024. Such poor fiscal performance reeks of Governor Adeleke’s inability to pilot the state’s affairs to the required greatness, and his retrogressive policies could take the state about 10 years to salvage.”

    He urged Adeleke to eschew merriment and prioritise public policy and governance to help bring a sigh of relief to the State.

    However, the Commissioner for Information, Kolapo Alimi berated the group, describing the allegations as irresponsible.

    Alimi said: “All the claims raised by the opposition group are irresponsible. They are struggling to play an opposition role, hence their sense of reasoning is blurry.

  • APC, Osun govt clash over Adeleke’s alleged N56bn loan plan

    APC, Osun govt clash over Adeleke’s alleged N56bn loan plan

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Osun State Government on Monday clashed over Governor Ademola Adeleke’s plan to secure a N56 billion foreign loan.

    The APC raised concerns that with the new facility, foreign loans obtained under Adeleke’s administration could rise to N81.6 billion.

    Speaking at the Tinubu/Shettima campaign office, the party’s Director of Media and Publicity, Chief Kola Olabisi, criticized Adeleke’s borrowing approach, warning it could plunge the state into a financial crisis.

    Olabisi alleged that Adeleke had secretly obtained N10 billion and N3.92 billion in domestic loans earlier in 2023, pushing Osun State’s debt profile to N55.3 billion.

    “As if that was not enough, the state has also failed to address concerns that it secretly signed a $16 million foreign loan facility, equivalent to N26.6 billion, to fund the ‘Nigeria for Women Project,’” Olabisi added.

    “The first phase of the NG-CARES ended in June 2024, however, the Osun State governor, we are aware, has been misled to go for the second phase of the programme. Therefore, the state has signed all relevant documents to signify her intention to participate in the second phase of the NG-CARES programme. 

    “In total, the state will obtain the sum of $35 million (equivalent of N56 billion) on the NG – CARES facility.”

    However, Adeleke through his spokesperson, Olawale Rasheed, berated APC for misleading public over acclaimed loan facility, noting that “It is fake news.”

    Read Also: Efon APC stakeholders endorse Oyebanji for second term

    “Normally we are not surprised, because APC has gotten to a stage in Osun that they have nothing to say again, they cannot fault us on our service delivery, they cannot fault us on governance delivery, good governance across the sector, and we are getting award from far and near. 

    He queried that “How can you call N’care, World Bank matters that we even inherited from both Governor Aregbesola and, former governor Oyetola. How can you call it our matter? It’s not our matter. It’s a federal matter. There are many illiterate postulations coming from APC.”