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Osun Clinches Climate Action Awards
. . . Hosts Stakeholders Workshop on Climate Finance
In recognition of its leadership in climate change action and environmental sustainability, Osun State has received multiple awards.
It was gathered that the honours were presented at the closing of the Pre-Africa Infrastructure, Climate Change and Investment Summit (AICIS-2025) Stakeholders Engagement Workshop held at the Western Sun Hotel, Ede.
The three-day workshop, which ran from April 28 to 30, 2025, was convened in partnership with the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) and development stakeholders. It attracted high-level participants including government officials, academics, civil society groups, and private sector representatives, who deliberated on climate project development, waste-to-wealth innovation, and access to international climate finance.
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During a reception at the Government House in Osogbo to honour the participants, Governor Ademola Adeleke noted that Osun had emerged as a sub national hub for climate action in South Western Nigeria.
In his words, “We are elated as a government for the partnership that birthed this transformative workshop,” the governor said. “Our commitment to climate action predates our assumption of office. Osun is today the undisputed hub for climate action in South Western Nigeria.”
Gov Adeleke recalled that following his electoral victory in July 2022, his transition committee laid the groundwork for climate governance, which led to the creation of a dedicated Department of Climate Change under the Ministry of Environment. The state also appointed a Consultant on Climate Change and Renewable Energy, Prof. Chinwe Obuaku-Igwe, who has since led various initiatives earning the state national recognition.
“Since her appointment, Prof. Obuaku-Igwe has innovated on several fronts. Her leadership and partnership with the Ministry of Environment have resulted in three climate action awards for Osun,” the governor said.
Among ongoing initiatives is the establishment of a Recycling Hub to drive circular economy and fast-track waste-to-wealth processes. The project is being coordinated under the Office of the Consultant.
In her remarks at the workshop, Prof. Obuaku-Igwe stressed the need for states to align local solutions with international climate finance mechanisms.
“Our goal is to bridge the gap between grassroots realities and global climate financing,” she said. “With well-developed concepts and strong financial models, Osun is positioned to attract the investments required to implement scalable, high-impact climate projects.”
The workshop featured presentations from leading experts including Dr. Bankole Seyi, Mr. O.O. Eto Abasi, Prof. Kafeelah Yusuf, and Dr. Ademola Aderinto, covering topics such as MRV systems, sustainable agriculture, renewable energy integration, and behavioural change for environmental sustainability.
A communique issued at the end of the workshop outlined several key resolutions, including the scaling up of public-private partnerships, building MRV capacity at state level, creating project incubation hubs, and harmonising federal and state policies.
The motion for the adoption of the communique was moved by Hon. Funso Babarinde, Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Renewable Energy, and seconded by Comrade Akinbode Oluwasegun of the National Youth Council, Osun State.
As part of next steps, stakeholders agreed on the submission of bankable climate proposals to the Green Climate Fund (GCF) by Q4 2025 and the organisation of a follow-up summit to review progress.
Gov Adeleke also commended the Commissioner for Environment, Hon. Mayowa Adejorin, and the top management of the ministry for their dedication to environmental sustainability.
“We are not relenting,” the governor said. “The knowledge shared here will no doubt translate into implementable projects that will drive sustainable development in Osun and beyond.”
Osun State is expected to participate fully in the upcoming Africa Infrastructure, Climate Change and Investment Summit, scheduled to hold in Abuja from May 27 to 30, 2025.
Oil marketers have warned that Nigerians may soon pay as much as ₦1,500 per litre for Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), commonly known as petrol, as global oil prices surge following the escalating conflict involving Iran in the Middle East.
The National President of the Petroleum Products Retail Outlets Owners Association of Nigeria (PETROAN), Dr. Billy Gillis-Harry, issued the warning on Tuesday while speaking on a television programme on the impact of the global crisis on fuel prices.
According to him, the current volatility in the international oil market has already pushed petrol prices above ₦1,000 per litre at the depot level, with the ex-depot price from the Dangote Petroleum Refinery now standing at about ₦1,175 per litre.
He explained that once logistics, transportation, and other operational costs are added, the final pump price could rise significantly, possibly reaching ₦1,500 per litre in the near future.
Despite concerns about the rising cost of fuel, Gillis-Harry noted that steady availability of petroleum products from the Dangote Refinery remains a major relief for Nigeria, stressing that consistent supply is better than a nationwide fuel scarcity.
He added that the refinery’s production capacity is helping to stabilize supply across the country at a time when global markets remain highly unstable.
The latest price adjustment by the Dangote Refinery marks the fourth review within two weeks. Petrol prices increased from ₦995 per litre to ₦1,175 per litre, while diesel rose from ₦1,430 to about ₦1,620 per litre.
The development comes amid a sharp spike in international crude oil prices triggered by fears of supply disruptions due to the ongoing Middle East conflict.
Brent crude recently climbed above $102 per barrel, while West Texas Intermediate (WTI) rose to around $101 per barrel.
Industry analysts say the rising oil prices are already having a ripple effect on Nigeria’s downstream petroleum sector, forcing depot operators and fuel marketers to adjust their prices in response to the global market trend.
Meanwhile, the management of Dangote Petroleum Refinery has stated that although Nigeria introduced a crude-for-naira arrangement to support local refineries, the facility still purchases crude oil at international market prices, leaving it exposed to global price fluctuations.
The United Nations has raised the alarm over a dramatic surge in attacks on schools worldwide, reporting a 166% increase between 2021 and 2024.
The rise highlights the escalating dangers faced by children in conflict zones.
United Nations Deputy High Commissioner for Human Rights, Nada Al-Nashif, revealed the figures during the annual meeting of the UN Human Rights Council on the rights of the child on Monday.
The session, themed “Mainstreaming the Rights of Children in Armed Conflict: Prevention and Protection,” focused on protecting children amid global conflicts.
Al-Nashif noted that the attacks were particularly concentrated in Sudan, Ukraine, the Gaza Strip, Myanmar, and Ethiopia, where children remain among the most vulnerable victims.
“In 2024, armed conflict directly affected nearly one in six children globally—about 470 million children,” she said. “Years of lost education, trauma, and lasting mental scars shape societies for generations. Long after the fighting subsides, children continue to face deadly risks.”
She highlighted Gaza as having the world’s highest number of child amputees per capita, warning that the impact of war goes far beyond immediate violence.
In Lebanon, government figures show that more than 450,000 people were displaced in less than a week, with at least 394 fatalities, including 83 children, during the 2024 conflict with Israel.
Al-Nashif also stressed the disproportionate risks for displaced children, who are more likely to die from disease linked to unsafe water and sanitation than from direct violence.
In the Democratic Republic of Congo, a 2025 cholera outbreak killed 340 children, underscoring the long-term consequences of conflict.
She called on states to uphold their international obligations to protect children, insisting that protecting children is “both a legal obligation and a humanitarian moral imperative.”
Also speaking at the council, Vanessa Frazier, Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict, warned that violence against children continued at extreme levels in 2025.
She urged mainstreaming child protection across peace, security, humanitarian, human rights, and development efforts, emphasizing that children should actively participate in shaping policies designed to safeguard them.
Frazier highlighted her office’s global campaign, “Prove It Matters,” aimed at amplifying children’s voices in conflict resolution and peacebuilding.
The UN report underscores the urgent need for coordinated international action to protect children and ensure their safety in conflict zones worldwide.
Portugal officially inaugurated its new president, Antonio Jose Seguro, on Monday, pledging to bring stability to a nation shaken by political uncertainty and natural disasters.
Seguro, the centre-left candidate, won last month’s presidential run-off against far-right rival Andre Ventura, following weeks of catastrophic storms that killed at least seven people and caused approximately €4 billion ($4.6 billion) in damage.
Speaking at his swearing-in ceremony in Lisbon’s parliament, Seguro emphasized cooperation with the minority right-wing government and vowed to end the country’s “electoral frenzy.”
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“I will do everything I can to put an end to this electoral frenzy,” he said, pointing to the inability of previous governments to complete their terms.
Amid global crises, including conflicts in the Middle East and a more isolationist US approach under President Donald Trump, Seguro stressed the importance of multilateralism.
“The force of law has been replaced by the power of the strongest,” he remarked.
Seguro succeeds Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, a conservative who leaves office at 77 after serving two five-year terms.
While the Portuguese presidency is largely ceremonial, Seguro’s leadership signals a commitment to political stability and international engagement.
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