Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, has directed the holding of a logo crafting competition between 19th and 26th April.
The state House of Assembly had in July 2023 repealed the state Anthem, Crest, and Flag Law 2012 and replaced it with a new law which enabled the executive to come up with a new logo for the state.
Adeleke had on Wednesday, signed a bill adopting a new logo for the state but the design released through the social media was greeted with criticism.
But Adeleke while commenting on the decision to have a logo drafting competition said, “As a listening leader, I have asked that we open the change of logo to more public input through this one-week competition.”
Earlier, an opposition party in the state, the Allied Peoples Movement, described the new logo as a waste of taxpayers’ money.
Also reacting, the state chapter of the New Nigeria Peoples Party, said the new logo fell short of standard.
In a release signed by the party’s chairman, Dr Tosin Odeyemi, obtained in Osogbo on Thursday, NNPP wondered if the governor saw the new design before assenting to its bill.
The release partly read, “The new logo is an embarrassment to us in Osun. Who did they give the contract to? Didn’t Governor Adeleke see it before assenting to the bill? With an array of technologically inclined youth, we have in Osun that can come up with good designs, how could a state government unveil such a poorly designed logo? Osun has become a laughing stock on different social media since the unveiling of the design.
“What happened to the original logo being used since the creation of Osun state? We all spoke against it when the administration of Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola designed a new logo for the state and abandoned the one in use before he came into office as governor. The one we have now is however worse compared to the one given the state by Aregbesola.
“For those that have ears in this government, a drastic step needs to be taken. The logo should be withdrawn from the public to save Osun from this unnecessary bashing.”
Meanwhile, a release by the spokesperson to the governor, Olawale Rasheed, on Thursday said holding of the logo crafting competition would be held between April 19th and 26th.
“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.
“Entries can also be submitted online via emailus@osunstate.gov.ng or statelogo@osunstate.gov, with bio-data and contact details of the designer. The subject should be with the subject “OSUN STATE LOGO. The best design will be announced on April 28 and will be unveiled on April 30th during the new edition of Ipade Imole. The best three designers will be invited and compensated,” Rasheed said.
