by Dr. Seye Oyeleye
As Nigeria marks its 64th year 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 Commision 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 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.
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 sociocultural 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 Commision 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 thirty-six 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 Masterplan. 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.
Youth Empowerment
Perhaps the most exciting aspect of President Tinubu’s speech for the Southwest is his emphasis on youth empowerment. The announcement of a National Youth Conference is not just a policy point; it’s a clarion call for the region with Nigeria’s most educated and dynamic youth population.
“This conference will be a platform to address the diverse challenges and opportunities confronting our young people, who constitute more than 60 per cent of our population.”
The Southwest must ensure that its youth are not just participants but leaders in this national conversation. DAWN Commission stands ready to work with our state governments to organise pre-conference forums, ensuring that the region’s young voices are well-prepared and impactful at the national level.
Moreover, the region should view this as an opportunity to showcase its innovative youth programmes. From Lagos’ tech incubators to Oyo’s youth farming initiatives, the Southwest has a story to tell and a model to share with the rest of the nation.
The President’s mention of the 3 million Technical Talents (3MTT) program and the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) should be music to the ears of Southwest educators and youth organisations. The region should aim to capture its commensurable share of these opportunities, positioning itself as Nigeria’s talent factory.
Navigating Economic Reforms
President Tinubu’s economic vision, as outlined in his speech, is both ambitious and necessary. For the Southwest, with its diverse economy ranging from finance to manufacturing, understanding and adapting to these reforms is crucial.
“To stimulate our productive capacity and create more jobs and prosperity, the Federal Executive Council approved the Economic Stabilisation Bills, which will now be transmitted to the National Assembly.”
The Southwest’s business community, led by chambers of commerce and industry associations, must take a proactive stance. They should form task forces and working groups to study these bills, provide feedback to legislators, and prepare their members for the coming changes. The region’s economic think tanks should produce policy briefs analysing the potential impact of these reforms on key sectors of the Southwest economy.
Furthermore, the President’s commitment to implementing the Supreme Court judgement on local government financial autonomy presents both a challenge and an opportunity for Southwest states. While it may require adjustments in state-local government relations, it also opens the door for more grassroots-driven development. DAWN Commission will work with state governments to develop strategies for enhancing local government capacity, ensuring they can effectively manage their new financial responsibilities.
Recommendations for Southwest Stakeholders
For Governors:
Organise a Southwest Economic Summit, leading to the establishment of working groups tasked with developing localised solutions to national economic challenges.
Integrate the potentials of the federal government’s tractor assembly initiative into the ongoing regional agricultural collaboration.
Develop a comprehensive Southwest Green Transport Masterplan, focusing on CNG adoption and sustainable urban mobility.
Create a Youth Empowerment Coordination Office to maximise the region’s participation in federal youth initiatives.
For Private Sector Business Leaders:
Form industry-specific working groups to study and prepare for the upcoming Economic Stabilisation Bills.
Invest in agricultural technology and mechanisation services to support the region’s farming communities.
Explore public-private partnerships for the establishment of CNG infrastructure across the region.
Develop apprenticeship and internship programs aligned with the 3MTT initiative to build a skilled workforce.
For Sociocultural Groups:
Organise community enlightenment programs on the importance of national unity and the region’s role in Nigeria’s progress.
Establish cultural exchange programs with other regions to foster national integration.
Create mentorship networks linking successful professionals with aspiring youth from underprivileged backgrounds.
For Traditional Leaders:
Spearhead community-based security initiatives that complement state and federal efforts.
Use traditional institutions to promote agricultural modernisation and attract youth to farming.
Serve as bridges between local communities and government agencies implementing new policies.
For Youth Organisations:
Prepare comprehensive position papers for the upcoming National Youth Conference, ensuring the Southwest’s concerns and aspirations are well-represented.
Develop tech-driven solutions for regional challenges, from agriculture to urban planning.
Create peer-to-peer financial literacy programs to help young people navigate economic changes and opportunities.
The Southwest as Nigeria’s Beacon
President Tinubu’s Independence Day address paints a picture of a Nigeria at a crossroad, facing formidable challenges but armed with unwavering hope and concrete plans. For the Southwest, this is more than a moment of national reflection; it is a call to action, an opportunity to lead by example, and a chance to shape the nation’s future.
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 the President eloquently puts it:
“The challenges of the moment must always make us believe in ourselves. We are Nigerians—resilient and tenacious. We always prevail and rise above our circumstances.”
Let the Southwest be the first to rise, the first to prevail, and in doing so, lift the entire nation towards the promise of a brighter tomorrow.
Dr. Seye Oyeleye is the Director General of DAWN Commission. He could be reached at [email protected]
