The Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of the South-West Development Commission (SWDC), Dr Charles Akinola, on Thursday, stated that the commission is embarking on a comprehensive strategy to achieve the needed regional connectivity and integrated economic development across the six states of the region.
While emphasising that the plan will concentrate on critical infrastructure connectivity within the region, private sector investment, and multi-stakeholder collaboration, Akinola highlighted that the move will position the southwest as a centre for trade, investment, and rapid sustainable growth.
The Managing Director of SWDC made this statement during a panel session at the South-West stakeholders’ dialogue organised by the pan-Yoruba socio-political organisation, Afenifere, the DAWN Commission, and South-West governors in Akure, the capital of Ondo State.
With the theme of the two-day summit titled ‘Strengthening Democracy Through Dialogue: Assessing Progress, Charting the Future,’ Akinola observed that effective regional integration through enhanced road networks, digital infrastructure, and economic linkages will not only facilitate trade and mobility but also bolster social cohesion and the region’s competitiveness.
“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, 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 connect the region with highways and superhighways? We came in today from Ibadan. It took us about four hours to get here. Now, how do we get state governments and the federal and private sectors to come together to work on that kind of infrastructure?
“We’re looking at a very, very best-in-class fund, Southwest Investment Fund, which will be pretty much private sector-driven and will be able to help catalyse private sector investment from all over,” Akinola said.
He emphasised that the commission has begun consultations with development partners and private investors to design a framework for intra-regional transportation corridors, agricultural value chain enhancement, and technology-driven industrial clusters that would connect major cities and rural communities.
Akinola also stressed 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 regional development blueprint.
According to him, by improving infrastructure and connectivity, the South-West can leverage its human capital and economic potential to drive national growth, attract investment, and create job opportunities for millions of young people.
Akinola added, “We set out to develop a technical report on Southwest development, and we came up with a framework for the Southwest Development Commission at that time.
“And so we had the opportunity to interact with governors across the state, also getting to find out from them what their priorities are and their own thinking about what regional development should be. So it’s an ongoing process. There’s no way we’ll succeed if we don’t engage the governors.”
