By Bola Bamigbola
THE Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, has called for entries for a new logo of Osun State.
The submission of entries is between today and Friday, April 26.
The development followed the outcry from members of the public and the opposition over the design released on the social media handle of the state government on Wednesday.
The Osun State House of Assembly had, in July 2023, repealed the state Anthem, Crest and Flag Law 2012 and replaced it with a new law, which enabled the executive arm of government to come up with a new logo for the state.
On Wednesday, Governor Adeleke signed a bill adopting the new logo for the state but the new design was greeted with criticism.
An opposition party in the state, Allied Peoples Movement, described the new logo as a waste of taxpayers’ money.
The Osun State chapter of the New Nigeria People’s Party also said the new logo fell short of the standard.
In a release signed by its state chairman, Dr Tosin Odeyemi, obtained in Osogbo on Thursday, NNPP wondered if the governor saw the new design before assenting to its bill.
“The new logo is an embarrassment to us in Osun. To whom did they award the contract? Didn’t Governor Adeleke see it before assenting to the bill? With an array of technologically-inclined youth we have in Osun State 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 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 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 The logo should be withdrawn from public to save Osun State from this unnecessary bashing.”
The governor, however, said the state would allow for more entries to compete for the logo design.
In a release by his spokesperson, Olawale Rasheed, on Thursday, the governor said holding of the logo crafting competition would be held between April 19 and April 26.
“As a listening leader, I have asked that we open the change of logo to more public input, through this one-week competition,” the statement read.
It further stated: “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.”
Source: The Punch
