Adeleke Names Obuaku-Igwe DG, Special Envoy on Climate Change, Renewable Energy

The Osun State Government has appointed Professor Chinwe Obuaku-Igwe as Director-General and Special Envoy to Governor Ademola Jackson Nurudeen Adeleke on Climate Change and Renewable Energy.

A statement by the Governor’s spokesperson, Mallam Olawale Rasheed, yesterday in Osogbo, said the appointment underscores the administration’s commitment to consolidating its leadership in climate governance and renewable energy innovation.

Obuaku-Igwe, who has been at the forefront of the state’s climate agenda, was credited with laying the foundation for a comprehensive governance framework that has earned Osun recognition within and outside Nigeria.

According to the statement, the professor has overseen several milestone interventions, including the training of more than 2,000 youths and women in circular economy and waste-to-wealth initiatives, leading to the creation of over 350 green small and medium-scale enterprises (SMEs).

She also established a recycling hub with the Food and Beverage Recycling Alliance (FBRA) and Waste Swap, processing mega tonnes of recyclables monthly and formalising over 400 jobs.

Other initiatives include the IMOLE Solar Lantern Campaign, through which more than 10,000 lanterns were distributed to rural pupils, improving education outcomes while reducing household energy costs; the E-Bike pilot project aimed at cutting urban transport emissions and lowering fuel costs for operators by 30 per cent; and the development of strategic documents such as the Osun Climate Action Plan, Renewable Energy Policy, Climate Smart Investment Portfolio, and a Circular Economy Framework.

The government noted that these interventions have contributed to Osun’s rise as a pioneer in Nigeria’s green economy, with more than 2,500 jobs already created through clean energy, recycling and sustainable mobility projects.

Beyond local reforms, Obuaku-Igwe has represented the state at global and national platforms, including COP28 in Azerbaijan and the Citizens Lobby Conference in Washington DC, where she secured climate-linked investments.

As Director-General and Special Envoy, she is expected to drive high-level partnerships with multilateral agencies and investors, coordinate cross-sectoral implementation of Osun’s climate and renewable energy agenda, and sustain the state’s visibility in international climate diplomacy.

The statement stressed that her new role complements, rather than conflicts with, the statutory functions of the Department of Climate Change under the Ministry of Environment.

The government congratulated Prof. Obuaku-Igwe and reaffirmed its commitment to deepening Osun’s transition to what it described as a resilient, inclusive and prosperous green economy.