September 04, 2025
By Ayinde Adeleke
The South West Development Commission (SWDC) has held its inaugural Board meeting in Ibadan, Òyó State, outlining a roadmap to unlock the region’s economic potential.
The two-day meeting, held on September 1 and 2, 2025, brought together the Chairman, Senator Olubunmi Adetunmbi; the Managing Director/CEO, Dr. Charles Akinola; Executive directors; and other Board members.
Speaking after the meeting, Dr. Akinola declared that the commission was “set for full take-off” and committed to delivering on its mandate in line with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
He described the SWDC as a landmark intervention to address development challenges in a coordinated and sustainable manner.
He listed the Commission’s priorities as infrastructure development, industrialization, regional integration, job creation, and human capital development across the six South-West states. These, he said, align with the Renewed Hope Agenda’s focus on economic diversification, poverty reduction, and inclusive growth.
Akinola unveiled the “One Bloc Development Agenda,” a strategy to harmonise initiatives into a unified framework for regional growth.
He explained that this approach would allow the region to pool resources, coordinate projects, and pursue cross-border solutions in areas such as agriculture, technology, and transport.
He stressed that the plan would attract large-scale investments and strengthen collaboration among South-West states.
“By focusing on infrastructure, innovation, education, and enterprise, we shall unlock new opportunities for our people and boost Nigeria’s overall economic resilience,” he added.
The SWDC boss called on state governments, private sector leaders, traditional institutions, and civil society to support the commission’s vision.
“The success of the SWDC cannot rest on the Board alone. This is our collective project,” he said.
The Board includes executive directors Olusegun Olufehinti (Projects), Tele Ogunjobi (Finance), Rt. Hon. Funmilayo Tejuosho (Corporate Services), Alhaji Fatai Ibikunle (Commercial and Environmental Development), and Alhaji Lateef Ajijola (Social and Human Capital Development), alongside other members. The Commission is headquartered in Ibadan, Òyó State.
