The Oyo State Commissioner for Environment and Natural Resources, Hon. Ademola Aderinto, has declared that his ministry is shifting focus from mere sanitation to what he described as “sanity,” as part of efforts to position the state as a frontline player in environmental management nationally and globally.
Aderinto spoke during a courtesy visit to Adamimogo 105.1FM Ibadan on Tuesday, where he led his management team to seek strategic media partnership with the station.
“We see media as a very crucial entity in achieving our desire of making Oyo State the frontline in environment, nationally, regionally, and even globally. We believe this is possible,” the commissioner stated.
He emphasised that Oyo State, historically regarded as the pacesetter in Nigeria, has both the resources and the political will to reclaim its leadership position in environmental sustainability.
We believe we have what it takes. As we are known, and as we are called the pacesetter in the nation, we want to present and prove to the world that we are actually pacesetters,” Aderinto said.
The commissioner, however, acknowledged that government policies and strategies alone cannot achieve the desired transformation without active collaboration with the media.
“We cannot achieve this, although we have put in policies and strategies, but we can’t achieve all of them except we have the cooperation and support of the media, every form of media, digital media, the conventional media, press,” he added.
He disclosed that the visit was part of a broader engagement with key media houses believed to have the reach and capacity to amplify the environmental agenda of Governor Seyi Makinde’s administration.
“It’s good to talk, but if there’s no amplifier and speaker, you have to stress yourself to talk. And even after stressing yourself, your voice will not have the necessary reach. So we don’t want to stress ourselves in this work. We believe the media is there,” Aderinto explained.
The commissioner, who was accompanied by his full team, noted that its management goes far beyond waste disposal and sanitation exercises.
“Environment is everything. Environment is life. Environment is health. Environment is wealth. Environment is everything,” he said.
He clarified the philosophical shift driving the ministry’s renewed approach: “I said it during the launch of our strategy to success yesterday, that we are not after sanitation. We are after sanity. Sanity talks about the lifestyle. Sanity talks about how we do things, not just sanitation of clearing up the mess.”
Aderinto also commended Adamimogo 105.1FM for its growing impact in the broadcast space, despite being relatively new, and expressed confidence that collaboration with the station would accelerate the ministry’s goals.
In his response, the General Manager of Adamimogo 105.1FM, Mr. Joshua Adegbite, welcomed the commissioner and his team, noting that the visit was an affirmation of the station’s rising profile.
“Just like you have highlighted and mentioned, it also tells us that you are doing something right, and you are well-noticed and observed. So we sincerely appreciate this,” Adegbite said.
He disclosed that the station had observed the ministry’s engagements with other media houses and was pleased to finally receive the team.
“We are a private organisation, so it’s business and business and business. Of course, we work with government. But at some point, we also hope that it will be a kind of win-win situation for us,” the GM stated.
Adegbite assured the commissioner that Adamimogo FM’s stations in Lagos and Ekiti would also be carried along in any partnership with the Oyo State Ministry of Environment, ensuring broader coverage for the ministry’s campaigns and programmes.
“We will be willing to collaborate. Our doors are open to support and collaborate. Anytime you want to run campaigns or have programmes, you have the number of the head of news and current affairs. If there are press releases, if there are press conferences, the media officer can also relate to that,” he added.
The general manager expressed willingness to have the commissioner feature on the station’s current affairs programmes in the near future, noting that with proper planning, such engagements would further deepen the partnership.
