By Abdullahi Lukman
Osun State’s Imole Solar Lamp has received international recognition at the 2026 IEEE Smart Cities Awards, earning a Special Mention for its people-centred approach to clean energy and community development.
The recognition places the Osun initiative among projects from Africa, Asia, Europe, the Middle East and the Americas recognised for advancing sustainable, resilient and smarter communities.
The Imole Solar Lamp, developed by the Osun State Government, is a solar-powered lighting solution designed to improve access to reliable and clean lighting, particularly in communities facing energy-access challenges.
The award highlights Osun’s broader effort to integrate renewable energy and climate action into its development strategy. The state has been pursuing initiatives covering climate governance, renewable energy, waste management, circular economy programmes and climate-resilience planning.
Prof. Chinwe Obuaku-Igwe, Director-General and Special Envoy to the Governor of Osun State on Climate Change and Renewable Energy, said the recognition demonstrates that smart-city innovation can extend beyond advanced digital technologies.
“For us, smart cities are not only about sophisticated technology or digital infrastructure.
A city is smart when innovation improves the everyday lives of its people, expands access to opportunity and builds resilience,” she said.
The IEEE awards recognised a range of projects, including digital-twin platforms, artificial-intelligence systems, flood-resilience infrastructure, environmental monitoring technologies and digital public services.
Against this backdrop, the recognition of the Imole Solar Lamp underscores the role of relatively simple, locally relevant technologies in addressing basic challenges such as energy access.
Across Nigeria, unreliable electricity and limited access to affordable energy continue to affect education, livelihoods, safety and economic activity, particularly in underserved communities. Solar technology provides an alternative source of lighting while reducing reliance on fossil-fuel-based energy.
“People should be able to see what climate action means in their own lives. It can mean cleaner energy, better livelihoods, reduced vulnerability or a new economic opportunity,” she said.
The state is also developing a Climate Action Plan and Climate Change Vulnerability Assessment, alongside renewable-energy policy frameworks and measures aimed at attracting climate-related investment and strengthening climate governance.
The recognition has also broadened the discussion around what constitutes a smart city, particularly in developing regions where basic infrastructure remains a priority.
While smart-city development is often associated with artificial intelligence, sensors, data platforms and digital infrastructure, initiatives such as the Imole Solar Lamp demonstrate how appropriate technology can also contribute to smarter and more resilient communities.
“We are interested in technology that works for people,” Obuaku-Igwe said. “Innovation does not have to be complicated to be transformative.”
The formal presentation of the IEEE Smart Cities Awards certificates is expected to take place at the IEEE International Smart Cities Conference (ISC2 2026) in Porto, Portugal, scheduled for October 26–30.
For Osun, the recognition provides an opportunity to highlight how locally developed renewable-energy solutions can contribute to broader efforts to improve energy access, strengthen climate resilience and advance sustainable development.
