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The Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the South-West Development Commission (SWDC), Dr. Charles Akinola, has said the commission is intensifying efforts to achieve greater regional connectivity and integrated development across the six states of the South-West. Akinola stated this on Thursday at the South-West Stakeholders’ Dialogue organised by the Pan-Yoruba socio-political group, Afenifere, and the DAWN Commission, in Akure, Ondo State. The event had the theme, “Strengthening Democracy Through Dialogue: Assessing Progress, Charting the Future.” According to him, the initiative is part of the commission’s plan to boost growth, improve infrastructure, and enhance regional cooperation for sustainable development in the region. Akinola explained that effective regional integration through improved road networks, digital infrastructure, and economic linkages would facilitate trade and mobility while strengthening social cohesion and competitiveness. He said, “The development commissions, like the South-West Development Commission, seek to see how those projects that are regional in nature, that are often left unattended to, are given focus and pride of place. So we’re looking at projects that are integrative in nature. “We’re looking at, for example, regional connectivity by rail. How do we get the region connected through highways, superhighways? We came in today from Ibadan. “It took us pretty much like four hours to get here. Now, how do we get the state governments, the federal government, and the private sector to come together to work on those kinds of infrastructure? “We’re looking at a very, very best-in-class fund — the South-West Investment Fund — which will be pretty much private sector-driven and will help catalyze investment from all over, so that some of those projects that are outstanding and much needed in the region get funded.” He revealed that the commission has begun consultations with development partners and private investors to design frameworks for intra-regional transportation corridors, agricultural value chain enhancement, and technology-driven industrial clusters to connect major cities and rural communities. Akinola noted that the commission’s strategy aligns with President Bola Tinubu’s economic transformation agenda and the renewed commitment of South-West governors to a unified development blueprint. According to him, improved infrastructure and connectivity will enable the South-West to leverage its human capital and economic potential to drive national growth, attract investment, and create jobs for millions of young people. He said, “We will be engaging in the next several weeks with a broad range of stakeholders — communities, governors, trade groups — defining the vision of the commission so it becomes a shared vision. ALSO READ: Anambra NAWOJ intensifies advocacy for girl-child development “And that’s really where we’ll be able to have the most inclusive set of drivers and people who will be driving the mission of it.” Akinola recalled that he chaired an expert group established by the South-West governors between 2020 and 2021 to develop a technical framework for the commission. “As the chairman of an expert group that was set up by the governors in 2020, 2021, we developed a technical report on South-West development and a framework for the South-West Development Commission at that time,” he said. “We had the opportunity to interact with governors across the states, finding out from them what their priorities are and their own thinking about what regional development should be. It’s an ongoing process. There’s no way we’ll succeed if we don’t engage the governors. “The message for the people of the South-West is that we need collectively a well-joined-up thinking. We want to see South-West people being involved in what we’re doing. We’re going to move around and together come up with a shared understanding. “We believe the opportunities here have been granted through the creation of the South-West Development Commission. “We stand on a covenant with the people of the South-West that we’ll do our best and be partners in progress with the Kabiyesi, governors, trade groups, youth, and market women. “Collectively, we will share this vision and drive prosperity through the work of the South-West Development Commission.” NIGERIAN TRIBUNE
