Governor Ademola Adeleke of Osun State has initiated a competition for the design of a new state logo following criticism from opposition parties and the public concerning the recently unveiled logo.
Submissions for the competition will be accepted from April 19 to 26.
The call for entries comes shortly after Governor Adeleke approved a new state logo on Wednesday, which he heralded as marking a “new rebirth” for Osun State. This decision met with immediate opposition, reflecting dissatisfaction with the design.
The necessity for a new logo arose after the Osun State House of Assembly, in July 2023, repealed the State Anthem, Crest and Flag Law of 2012, allowing the executive branch to create a new symbol for the state.
In response to the backlash, the governor has decided to broaden participation in the design process. Olawale Rasheed, the governor’s spokesperson, released a statement on Thursday detailing the governor’s directive:
The statement read, “As a listening leader, I have asked that we open the change of logo to more public input, through this one-week competition. Those submitting a design are to take into account the prototype logo in terms of its contents and style. The submission can be made in person, both soft and printed copy, to the Office of the Commissioner, Ministry of Information and Public Enlightenment. The best design will be announced on April 28 and will be unveiled on April 30 during the new edition of Ipade Imole. The best three designers will be invited and compensated.”
The Osun All Progressive Congress criticized the new logo, stating it fell short of what a state logo should represent. Similarly, the Allied Peoples Movement slammed the design as a waste of taxpayers’ money, and the New Nigeria People’s Party echoed these sentiments, claiming the logo did not meet standards.
