In Abeokuta, Ogun State, the Olowu of Owu Kingdom, Oba Professor Saka Adelola Matemilola, is pioneering a bold blend of tradition and technology. His palace is being equipped with a solar power system capable of generating enough energy not only for royal operations but also to feed surplus electricity into the community’s grid, thus helping to cut costs, improve access, and boost local sustainability.
But the vision doesn’t stop with renewable energy. In a nod to Owu’s heritage, the monarch is introducing a 3D-printed cowry token system to streamline public welfare distribution. This modernized token—symbolically tied to the historical currency of cowries—is designed to close loopholes in social aid programs, ensuring that support reaches only those truly in need and preventing fraud or leakage.
By fusing green energy solutions with digital-era efficiency, Oba Matemilola is charting a path where cultural pride meets technological advancement. The project is already generating buzz as a potential model for sustainable governance and smart welfare management in Nigeria.
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