Niyi Akande, Osogbo.
In pursuance of its development agenda and promise to affect positively the health index of the people of the state especially women and children, the State Government had distributed several national clean cooking items to rural women in Osun State.
The national clean cooking items such as cooking gas cylinders, charcoal stoves and fire wood stoves were presented to women at the grassroots levels by the wife of the governor Mrs. Kafayat Oyetola at the Nelson Mandela Freedom Park, Osogbo.
Speaking at the ocassion, the wife of the governor, Mrs Kafayat Oyetola disclosed that the distribution is part of the climate change migration initiative, saying the modern cooking stoves will help in reducing dangerous smokes emanating from archaic style of cooking which contributes to climate change thereby promoting healthy living among women.
According to her, the clean cooking items are important because it will minimize exposure of women to emissions thereby preventing them from getting diseases relating to inhalation of particles from old cooking stoves.
She stated that the modern cooking stoves are energy efficient, adding that it makes cooking easier and faster.
In his keynote address, the Commissioner for Environment and Sanitation Hon. Sola Oladepo maintained that in order to reduce carbon emissions which is dangerous to the environment and lives of people, the state government is mitigating this by improving on it’s waste management system and embarking on serious reforestation.
Hon. Oladepo noted that Osun State is planting 10,000 hectares of trees annually to meet the target of increased reforestation, which hopefully will cover fifteen percent of the state by the year 2028.
He further stated that Osun is adapting to the situation of climate change by dredging streams and rivers across the state to enhance free flow of rivers with the aim of preventing flooding which can lead to loss of lives and properties.
The Commissioner opined that the distribution of National Clean Cook Stoves to indigenes of Osun is a means to encouraging them to adopt ‘zero emmission’ strategy.
In his address of welcome, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Environment and Sanitation Dr Temitope Oladele emphasized that the modern cooking stoves are necessary to combat environmental challenges ranging from scourge of flooding, drought and earthquakes among others as a result of constant changes and it’s negative effect on mankind.
In their goodwill messages, the Commissioner for Women and Affairs Barr. Mrs Olubukola Olaboopo and the Iyaloja General of the State, Alhaja Awawu Asindemade admonished women in the state to continue to support the government of Governor Adegboyega Oyetola who had made remarkable achievements within a year in office.
One of the beneficiaries of the environment friendly clean cook stoves Mrs Kudirat Akinleye commended the state government for the kind gesture.
Other dignitaries present at the event were the Special Adviser to the Governor on Environment and Sanitation, Hon. Rufus Oyegbile, former member of the House of representatives, Hon. (Mrs) Ayo Omidiran, wives of the too government functionaries, permanent secretaries, party leaders, and market women.
