By Solanke Ayomideji Taiwo
Hon. Engr. Taiwo Oludotun has emerged as one of the quiet reformers in Ogun State’s public service, blending technical discipline with environmental leadership as the state’s Commissioner for Forestry. An electrical power engineer by training, Oludotun has built a reputation for firm but practical governance, steering the state’s forestry sector toward accountability, sustainability, and climate resilience.
Born on October 25, 1973, in Lagos State and rooted in the Owu Kingdom of Abeokuta North, he received his early education at Catholic Comprehensive Secondary School, Ibara, Abeokuta. He went on to earn a National Diploma in Electrical/Electronics Engineering from Ogun State Polytechnic, Ojere, and a Higher National Diploma in Electrical Power Engineering from Yaba College of Technology. His academic journey was further strengthened by a Post-Graduate Diploma in Electrical Power Engineering from Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, as well as an international certificate in Public Utility Regulation and Strategy from the University of Florida, USA.
Before joining government, Oludotun built a solid private-sector career. He trained at Debo Industry in Oshodi and later rose through the ranks at Unistar Hi-Tech Systems Limited, Lagos, becoming General Manager. His years in power systems and corporate management shaped a results-driven mindset that would later define his public service.
Screened and confirmed by the Ogun State House of Assembly in 2023, he returned to the State Executive Council as Commissioner for Forestry at a time when the sector faced serious threats from illegal logging, forest encroachment, revenue leakages, and environmental degradation. His response has been both strategic and decisive.
Under his leadership, the ministry introduced a digital payment platform for logging operations to block revenue leakages and improve transparency. He also championed the deployment of Amotekun operatives into forest reserves to curb illegal logging, encroachment, and allied crimes, sending a strong signal that the era of impunity in protected areas is ending.
Beyond enforcement, Oludotun has positioned forestry as a frontline tool in Ogun’s climate response. He has been a visible advocate of tree-planting campaigns, supporting the state’s ambitious one-million-tree drive and the development of green recreational parks. His approach balances strict regulation with community engagement, working closely with traditional rulers, forest-edge communities, private firms, and civil society groups to promote shared responsibility for conservation.
Colleagues describe his leadership style as pragmatic, disciplined, and collaborative. A Fellow of the Nigerian Society of Engineers (FNSE), he is known for bringing engineering precision into public administration—measuring impact, tightening processes, and insisting on results.
In a political environment often shaped by noise, Hon. Taiwo Oludotun stands out for substance: a technocrat turned steward of nature, quietly powering a greener, safer future for Ogun State.
