Phredo💛

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

To everyone who came out on Saturday, September 19, to mark World Cleanup Day 2026 in Osogbo - thank you. From the volunteers and community mobilisers, to The Unofficial Aides, RAN Osogbo Chapter, Ministry of Environment, OWMA, environmental officers, the DSS, Nigeria Police Force, NSCDC, FRSC, youth groups, community leaders, photographers, media practitioners and every individual who gave their time and energy - we see you, and we appreciate you. Thank you to everyone who shared, posted, encouraged, mobilised or simply showed up. You helped turn a conversation about a cleaner Osogbo into action. But Saturday was never meant to be the end. It was a beginning. Our next cleanup is already being planned, and we will continue building a sustained culture of cleaner communities, better waste practices, recycling and environmental responsibility across Osun. Thank you for showing what is possible when government, citizens, communities and partners come together for the environment. A cleaner Osun starts with all of us. 💚 #CleanOsogbo #GreenOsun #WorldCleanupDay2026 #CleanerOsun #KeepOsunClean