The Development Agenda for Western Nigeria (DAWN) Commission and the Ara Growth & Development Foundation (AGDF) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to implement the Community-Led Development Toolkit (COLDET) project, marking a significant milestone in grassroots development initiatives in Southwest Nigeria.

The ceremony, held at the DAWN Commission’s office in Ibadan, was attended by the Alara of Ara Kingdom, Oba (Dr) Olubayo Adesola Oyelade Windapo, Abidogun 1, who led the AGDF delegation. He is also the convener of the AGDF initiative.

The COLDET project aims to revolutionise community development and Ara town will serve as the pilot field for the innovative toolkit, which is designed to empower township associations to take ownership of their development trajectory.

Chairman of the AGDF Steering Committee, Dr Tunji Olugbodi, expressed enthusiasm for the partnership, noting: “The AGDF has established an ARA 2035 Agenda to transform our ancient community. This coincides perfectly with DAWN’s COLDET project, making it an ideal collaboration. Together, we will demonstrate how communities can lead their development with the right tools and support.”

Director-General of DAWN Commission, Dr Seye Oyeleye, said: “This initiative embodies our commitment to sustainable regional development. By empowering communities to identify their unique assets and opportunities, we are building capacity for long-term self-reliance. What makes COLDET different is its structured approach to community engagement and its focus on evidence-based prioritisation.”

Also, COLDET Project Lead, Segun Balogun, said: “This partnership represents a fundamental shift in how we approach community development by transitioning from traditional top-down approaches to a more sustainable bottom-up model.

“COLDET will empower local stakeholders to systematically identify assets, prioritise needs, and implement sustainable projects.”