Commission Promises To Make South West Competitive Economic Bloc

The Southwest Development Commission (SWDC) has expressed its readiness to fully implement and deliver on its statutory mandate, in line with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda to make the region a competitive economic block.

Speaking at the commission’s inaugural meeting in Ibadan, the managing director/chief executive officer, Dr Charles Akinola, told journalists that the commission was “set for full take-off” and is ready to deliver.

At the inaugural meeting, they outlined an ambitious agenda to unlock the Southwest region’s full economic potential.

Akinola said, “The establishment of the Southwest Development Commission is a landmark intervention by President Tinubu to address the developmental challenges of our region in a coordinated, strategic and sustainable manner.

“We are grateful to Mr President for the trust reposed in us, and we assure the people of the Southwest that this commission will deliver fully on its mandate,”.

According to him, the commission’s mandate includes driving infrastructure development, fostering industrialisation, strengthening regional integration, creating jobs, and promoting human capital development across the six states of the Southwest.

He explained that the listed priorities were aligned with President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which emphasises economic diversification, poverty reduction, and inclusive growth.

“Our duty is to catalyse investments to make the Southwest a competitive economic bloc within a prosperous Nigeria. By focusing on infrastructure, innovation, education, and enterprise, we shall not only unlock new opportunities for our people but also strengthen Nigeria’s overall economic resilience,” he added.

He unveiled what he described as the “One Bloc Development Agenda,” saying it is a strategy that will harmonise initiatives into a unified framework for regional growth.

“Rather than pursuing fragmented projects in isolation, the One Bloc Development Agenda will allow us to pool resources, coordinate efforts, and ensure that the Southwest speaks with one voice regarding development priorities.

“This means that whether in agriculture, technology, or transport, we will pursue regional solutions that cut across state boundaries and deliver shared prosperity,” he said.

According to him, this approach will attract large-scale investments and foster collaboration among states in the Southwest.

Akinola called on all stakeholders, including state governments, private sector leaders, traditional institutions, and civil society organisations, to support the commission’s vision.

“The success of the SWDC cannot rest on the Board alone. We need the full cooperation of our governors, legislators, business leaders, community stakeholders and every Southwest citizen to bring this vision to life.

“This is our collective project, and with unity of purpose, we can make the Southwest not only the economic powerhouse of Nigeria but also a globally competitive region.”

Senator Olubunmi Adetunmbi, chairman, and Dr. Charles Akinola, managing director, lead the Southwest Development Commission (swdc).