The Ondo State Goodwill Ambassador for Environment, Ms. Olapeju Olayemi, has distributed 36 solar lights to rural women in Ose and Owo Local Government Areas of the state as part of activities marking the 2025 International Rural Women’s Day.
The initiative took place during a three-day summit and workshop on women’s empowerment in renewable energy, organised by the Office of the Goodwill Ambassador for Environment with the support of Owo Local Government Council.
Speaking at the event, Olayemi said the gesture aimed to promote women’s development in rural communities through education and access to clean energy. She noted that despite their immense contributions to local and national development, rural women often remained underappreciated.
She commended rural women for their innovation and use of indigenous knowledge to address environmental challenges, but lamented that inadequate infrastructure, including poor access to clean energy, continued to hinder their productivity.
Olayemi urged women to become advocates for solar energy and renewable technology in their communities.
She said, “Solar energy plays a crucial role in limiting climate change. As you return to your communities, spread the message that renewable energy can replace dependence on fossil fuels.
Working together will help us cut down carbon pollution and reduce the effects of climate change.”
The ambassador also commended the youth tech team, led by Ologan Charles, Babatunde Adetayo, and Sule Moshood Abey, for transforming solar materials from waste to usable energy.
She further recognised women leaders and award recipients — Barrister Bello Binta, Barrister Ezeh Lilian, Miss Ebebe Joy, and Ms. Bello Ewain — for their advocacy in improving the living standards of rural women and donating clothing and agricultural equipment to the beneficiaries.
Declaring the workshop open, Owo Local Government Chairman, Mr. Tope Omolayo, described the event as a celebration of rural women’s resilience and indispensable role in agriculture, food production, and community development.
Omolayo said, “Rural women embody strength and perseverance.
Their labour in food production and household management is often invisible and unpaid, yet vital to food security.
We must continue to honour and empower them.”
He added that the solar distribution initiative aligns with global efforts to combat climate change, noting that Owo had recently experienced extreme weather conditions such as floods and intense heat.
One of the beneficiaries, Mrs. Alonge Owani, a farmer from Uwese community, expressed gratitude to the organisers, donors, and tech team for their contributions, saying the solar lights and materials would greatly improve their daily lives.