Gov. Adeleke appoints Obuaku-Igwe special envoy

By Ayorinde Oluokun/Abuja

Osun State Government has approved the elevation of Prof. Chinwe Obuaku-Igwe to the position of Director-General and Special Envoy to the Governor on Climate Change and Renewable Energy.

Mallam Olawale Rasheed, the spokesperson to Governor Adeleke announced the appointment in a statement on Friday.

According to the statement, the appointment reflects the State’s commitment to consolidating its leadership in climate governance and renewable energy innovation.

The statement added that Prof. Obuaku-Igwe had over the past years, gone beyond advisory functions to establish a comprehensive climate governance framework in Osun State.

The statement indicated that under her leadership, more than 2,000 Osun youths and women have been trained in circular economy and waste-to-wealth initiatives, leading to the creation of over 350 green SMEs.

She was also credited with establishing a recycling hub with FBRA and Waste Swap, processing mega tonnes of recyclables monthly and formalising more than 400 jobs.

Also, she implemented the IMOLE Solar Lantern Campaign, which has distributed over 10,000 solar lanterns to rural pupils, improving education outcomes and reducing household energy costs.

She was also credited with introduction of an E-Bike Pilot Project that would reduce urban transport emissions while cutting operator fuel costs by 30% and development of Osun Climate Action Plan, Climate Smart Investment portfolio, Renewable Energy Policy, and Circular Economy Framework, pioneering sub-national climate policies in South West Nigeria.

Chinwe Obuaku-Igwe has also been representing Osun State at global and national platforms, including COP28 in Azerbaijan and the Citizens Lobby Conference in Washington DC, securing climate-linked investments.

“These interventions have positioned Osun State as a pioneer in Nigeria’s green economy, contributing to an increase in sectoral GDP and creating over 2,500 jobs through clean energy, recycling, and sustainable mobility projects,” Rasheed said in the statement.

The statement added that as Director-General & Special Envoy, Prof. Obuaku-Igwe will operate directly under the Governor, with a mandate to: Drive high-level partnerships with multilateral agencies, investors, and global climate networks, Coordinate the cross-sectoral implementation of Osun’s Climate Action Plan and renewable energy transition and also Ensure Osun maintains its role as a national and continental leader in climate-smart governance.

“This appointment complements, without conflict, the statutory functions of the Department of Climate Change under the Ministry of Environment, while elevating Osun’s representation in international climate diplomacy.

“The Government congratulates Prof. Obuaku-Igwe on this appointment and reaffirms its commitment to deepening Osun’s transition to a resilient, inclusive, and prosperous green economy,” the statement indicated.