The region’s response to this speech should not be passive acceptance but active engagement. By aligning regional efforts with national goals, by innovating where others hesitate, and by unleashing the power of its human capital, the Southwest can serve as a beacon for the rest of Nigeria.
As Nigeria marked its 64 years of independence, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s address to the nation serves as a compass, pointing towards a future fraught with challenges yet brimming with potential. For the Southwest region, a crucible of Nigeria’s economic and cultural dynamism, this speech is not merely a collection of words but a blueprint for action, a call to arms in the battle for progress and prosperity.
As the dedicated technocratic institution for the sustainable development of Southwest Nigeria, DAWN Commission finds itself at the confluence of national aspirations and regional imperatives and using this lens, it scrutinises the President’s words, extracting the essence that will fuel our region’s growth and contribute to the nation’s resurgence.
The challenges and opportunities
President Tinubu begins his address by acknowledging the stark realities facing the nation: “I am deeply aware of the struggles many of you face in these challenging times. Our administration knows that many of you struggle with rising living costs and the search for meaningful employment.”
This recognition of hardship is not merely a political platitude but a call to action for the Southwest. The region, with its bustling metropolises and agrarian heartlands, must view these challenges as fertile ground for innovation and growth. The rising costs of living are not just numbers on a chart but the daily reality of market women in Ibadan, factory workers in Lagos, and farmers in Ondo. For the Southwest governors and business leaders, this presidential acknowledgment should serve as a rallying cry. The region must lead in developing localised solutions to these national problems. For instance, a regional Southwest Economic Summit that brings together the brightest minds to tackle inflation at the grassroots level can be a starting point, followed by the establishment of an Employment Task Force that bridges the gap between our educational institutions and the needs of industry.
Security: The bedrock of progress
The President’s assertion that “our administration is winning the war on terror and banditry” is a beacon of hope, but for the Southwest, it’s a reminder of the need for vigilance and proactive measures. While the region has been relatively spared from the worst of Nigeria’s security challenges, complacency is a luxury we cannot afford.
Our governors demonstrated their readiness to be proactive with the establishment of the Western Nigeria Security Network, codenamed Amotekun. The agency, which turns five next year, now needs to be strengthened and repositioned as a predictive, preventive, and proactive security agency to complement its current largely responsive capacities. The Southwest traditional rulers and socio-cultural groups have a crucial role to play here. The region’s cultural cohesion and traditional governance structures can be leveraged to create a unique model of community policing. The success of Amotekun has shown that locally-rooted security initiatives can complement federal efforts effectively. Business leaders in the Southwest should see improved security as an opportunity to expand investment.
As the President notes, “our country attracted foreign direct investments worth more than $30 billion in the last year.” The Southwest, with its ports, industrial zones, and tech hubs, is perfectly positioned to be the primary beneficiary of this influx. But to do so, it must brand itself as Nigeria’s safest, most business-friendly region.
Agricultural renaissance
President Tinubu’s focus on agricultural mechanisation presents a golden opportunity for the Southwest Region. When he states, “Last week, the Federal Executive Council approved establishing a local assembly plant for 2000 John Deere tractors,” he’s not just talking about machinery; he’s unveiling a vision of agricultural transformation.
The Southwest, with its rich arable lands stretching from the cocoa plantations of Ondo to the rice fields of Ogun, must position itself at the forefront of this agricultural revolution, acting in consonance with the ongoing collaborations among the Region’s agricultural stakeholders as recently directed by the Southwest Governors Forum.
For instance, the output from the tractor assembly plant will require parks that can serve as hubs for the deployment and maintenance of these new machines. Now is the time to start planning for that. Moreover, the region’s tech-savvy youth can play a pivotal role in this transformation, if agriculture is given a tech-savvy wrapper that fits their lifestyle. For instance, a regional agricultural database, such as DAWN Commission is pioneering, will go a long way to transform agricultural practice from the traditional approach to the digital. Initiatives like this should be fast-tracked.
Energy Transition
The President’s commitment to energy transition, particularly the expansion of Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) for mass transit, aligns perfectly with the Southwest’s environmental consciousness and economic ambitions and a number of our states, particularly Lagos, Ogun and Oyo States are investing heavily in this sector. “The Federal Government is ready to assist the 36 states and FCT in acquiring CNG buses for cheaper public transportation.”
For a region grappling with urban congestion and air pollution, this initiative is a breath of fresh air – literally and figuratively. The Southwest should not merely wait for federal assistance but should proactively develop a Regional Green Transport Master plan. This could include partnerships with private sector players to establish CNG filling stations, training programs for CNG vehicle maintenance, and incentives for early adopters.
Furthermore, the region’s universities and technical institutions should seize this moment to become centres of excellence in green energy research. Imagine a future where the Southwest is not just a consumer of clean energy technologies but a producer and exporter, driving Nigeria’s transition to a low-carbon economy.
To be continued tomorrow.
Dr. Oyeleye is the Director General of DAWN Commission. He can be reached via: [email protected]
