The newly established Southwest Development Commission has entered into a strategic partnership with the Development Agenda for Western Nigeria Commission to fast-track coordinated development across the region.

The collaboration was formalised on Thursday when the SWDC management team, led by its Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Dr Charles Akinola, paid a courtesy visit to the DAWN Commission headquarters at Cocoa House, Ibadan.

Other members of the SWDC delegation included the Executive Director, Corporate Services, Rt. Hon. Adefunmilayo Tejuoso; Executive Director, Finance, Hon. Tele Ogunjobi; and Executive Director, Commerce and Environmental Development, Alhaji Fatai Ibikunle.

The engagement marks the beginning of what both institutions describe as a symbiotic working relationship targeted at accelerating the commission’s operational take-off and strengthening regional integration.

Akinola said the partnership would enable the new commission to leverage DAWN’s 12-year experience, institutional frameworks and proven development models.

“This partnership represents a pragmatic approach to regional development,” he said. “By building on DAWN Commission’s track record and institutional memory, we can hit the ground running in critical sectors that deliver impact to our people faster and more effectively.”

The initial areas of focus under the collaboration include agricultural modernisation, railway infrastructure, human capital and social development, industrialisation, and technology and innovation. Both institutions also pledged to eliminate duplication and ensure efficient deployment of resources for maximum regional impact.

DAWN Commission’s Director-General, Dr Seye Oyeleye, who received the delegation, described the partnership as a significant step towards deepening regional cooperation.

“Our 12 years of experience working across Lagos, Ogun, Oyo, Osun, Ondo and Ekiti states have taught us valuable lessons,” he said. “We are pleased to share this knowledge with SWDC to ensure the Southwest benefits from coordinated and efficient development interventions.”

The two organisations also commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for what they termed his strategic leadership in making regional development a central pillar of national progress. They noted that the establishment of development commissions across the geopolitical zones reflects the Federal Government’s resolve to address regional disparities and unlock broader socioeconomic potential.

Akinola and Oyeleye similarly applauded the Southwest Governors’ Forum, chaired by Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, for sustaining the region’s long-standing culture of collaboration and supporting institutional structures that promote shared prosperity.

Both institutions said the partnership signalled a new era of development synergy in the Southwest, with a commitment to delivering measurable impact for the region’s estimated 40 million residents.

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At the official handover ceremony of the devices which was held at the commission’s office, Cocoa House, Dugbe, Ibadan, the Director General of DAWN, Mr Seye Oyeleye noted that the closure of schools in the country, occasioned by the coronavirus pandemic has changed the landscape of education.

The DG assured that the development will not only bridged the increasingly evident digital education divide in the Southwest as pupils cannot continue to stay at home without finding a way for them to continue learning, but also bring education to the people at the lowest affordable cost. He added that the e-learning devices would be used to engage the governors in the region as well as other critical education stakeholders and concerned private individuals and organizations.

Oyeleye emphasized that the aim of introducing the device was to ensure that no child will be left behind because of pandemic, noting that the future of education is digital, and that the future only suddenly arrived with COVID-19.

According to him, “In the quest to make sure that everyone is carried along, we said let us have an irreducible minimum of digital education soon the kids will have access to. Because we know that we can’t afford the high end digital education that is being provided In Europe, we then look at our own peculiarities and say that how can we bring this education to the people at lowest affordable cost.

“So we have to be creative in the ways and manners we can accommodate all our children. How do you get the child in the towns and rural places connected so they don’t miss out on classes. Our pupils had gone home for months and we realised coronavirus is not going to go tomorrow morning and we are not just going to put the kids at home without finding a way for them to continue learning and we live in a part of the world where data for digital education is not that easy to come by. How do we then move forward to make sure that our children at home at thoroughly educated.

“We know without deceiving ourselves that vast majority of our pupils don’t have that luxury of a device and internet. Does that mean we now neglect them? If you neglect them, you are neglecting your future. Here at DAWN commission, our job is to think critically even for the states”.

He disclosed that apart from Ibironke Adeagbo Foundation, the commission also have one or two other organisations that it is working actively with on the digital education project.

Continuing, Oyeleye maintained that though, the device will not be free but it will be very affordable for the states, urging the states to invest in it.

“What we are saying is how can we make it easily accessible? It means that the states need to invest in it. It is something they can easily afford.

” It is partnership. It is preloaded and there is data on it. Our thinking is long term. We are talking to those who will give us the devices and data, even the content providers are not left out. The aim is that no child will be left behind because of pandemic .We shouldn’t say because some kids can’t go to school, then they are left behind. If we do that we are creating trouble for our immediate future,” he concluded

Justifying the NGO’s decision, earlier in his remarks, a trustee of Ibironke Adeagbo Foundation (IAF), Mr. Diran Famakinwa, informed that the foundation decided to partner DAWN commission because they were both working towards ensuring that majority of children who cannot afford the kind of data and electronic means to link up with their schools continue their education.

Famakinwa explained that how states will implement the use of the device would be down to the peculiarities in each state, adding that the device, comes with preloaded school syllabus in reading, writing and mathematics. He stressed that the need for a remote education will have to continue because things have changed and the kind of education before COVID-19 will not be sustainable going forward.

“Fortunately the two organisations are thinking along the same line and we saw good examples in Europe. Europe had free internet access and broadband. We’ve caught the bug of what DAWN commission is doing.

“Lagos State pioneered some mobile devices that come with six preloaded school syllabuses as well as the data credit to be able to make sure that the children while they are remotely at home were able to continue their education .So, in partnership with DAWN, we decided that everything that happened in Lagos, we need to share that broad knowledge across the whole South West region. We invested in purchasing these devices that would be shared across the other states that have not been able to use this and we would be working with them to get a feedback .

“We would be handing them over to the DAWN commission because they have a better logistics to make sure that these get to the true end user. The device is for every child and it comes with preloaded school syllabus as well as the credit. We feel this is a step in the right direction for those children that are currently not able to continue their education and we believe that even When the schools resume which we certainly hope as soon as the government is able to do deal with all the issues.

“The children will still have the need to be able to remotely access their school and be able to continue their education. We are really delighted that we can work in partnership with DAWN on this,” he remarked.

Famakinwa, however urged other stakeholders in the education sector, including philanthropists, clubs, religious organisations and societies to assist in making sure that every child in the region will be able to afford the device.

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DAWN Commission through its Director-General, Mr Seye Oyeleye, also described the Ekiti state helmsman as a governor who possesses a solid robust sense of governance and cosmopolitan developmental vision.

Oyeleye made this observation while hosting Ambassador Wale Ojo -Lanre, the Senior Special Assistant, Tourism Development to Ekiti State Governor who paid him a visit in his office, located in Cocoa House, Ibadan, Oyo State .

The DG, who commended Ambassador Ojo – Lanre for the visit said that he was not expecting less act from Ekiti because the state is being governed by a man who has a firm understanding of the essence of government, the need to govern well and the attitude of a philosopher ruler.

He disclosed that the Commission was inaugurated purposely to drive development in Western Nigeria and it will not steer off from its pristine objective and mission .

Speaking further, Oyeleye applauded the ex-Associate Editor of the Nigerian Tribune Newspapers, Ojo – Lanre for his proactiveness at espousing the tourism vision of Governor Fayemi and spreading its gospel to stakeholders who are strategic to the planting of a solid tourism economy in the state .

He assured that the Commission would not only support Ekiti Tourism Development but would facilitate both investment and investors for that sector in the state.

The DG, however reassured that the door of the Commission is opened to all for regional advancement and collective developmental issues .

In his remarks, Ambassador Ojo – Lanre, informed  that his visit to DAWN Commission was propelled by the need to acquaint the Commission of Dr Kayode Fayemi’s tourism vision for Ekiti and the necessity for the Commission becoming a partner and a strong partaker of the vision.

The award-winning tourism journalist also pointed out that DAWN Commission has not only proven to all its capability and capacity of engendering and pathfinding developmental strides but also nurturing them to fruition and blossoming.

Ojo- Lanre noted that tourism development in a state cannot be localised bearing in mind that tourism is about luring of a mass of people to a destination and since DAWN Commission is of regional essence, it should be involved in the task of making Ekiti the destination of choice first for the people of South West and then to others.

The governor’s aide lauded DAWN Commission for being the furnace that minted the Amotekun Western Nigeria Security outfit which is effectively complementing the nation’s security agencies at ensuring that peace and security reign in South West.

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The security network is expected to be launched today at the Oyo State Government House in Ibadan.

According to Daily Trust Reports, the IGP gave the approval at the Force Headquarters in Abuja, the nation’s capital when he met with Ekiti State Governor, Dr.  Kayode Fayemi.

It would be recalled that the  IGP had earlier summoned all the six governors of the zone to an emergency meeting for clarifications on grey areas of the operations of the security network.

After the meeting, it was learnt that the IGP granted that Amotekun be launched as it was a fallout of the southwest security summit organised by the police last year.

The report also added that the IGP approved that Operation Amotekun be launched, as the spokesman of the Nigeria Police Force, Deputy Commissioner of Police, Frank Mba, confirmed that the police boss was not opposed to the its creation.

Mba disclosed that the IGP, however, insisted that the operations of Amotekun must be in line with the national security policy.

“The Nigeria Police Force, under the leadership of the IGP Mohammed Adamu, is not opposed to any legitimate and community-based efforts aimed at tackling crime and criminality in any part of Nigeria.

“The IGP would insist that those efforts must be legitimate and be in line with our national security policy and compatible to the national security architecture”, he said.

Mba maintained that the IGP was working with the Southwest governors to streamline the operations of Amotekun in line with the community policing programme endorsed by President Mohammadu Buhari.

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The Executive Assistant to the governor on Investment Promotion and Public Private Partnership, Hon. Segun Ogunwuyi, made this disclosure when he paid courtesy visits to the federal government agencies on Thursday at Ibadan, the state capital.

The former member of the Federal House of Representatives said Oyo state was positioned to benefit maximally from partnership with the agencies in its quest to revive moribund State industries and assets in order to bring about progressive commercial climate to the State as a whole.

Speaking at the Ibadan office of DAWN Commission, the governor’s aide  pointed out that the State could not wait to fast track activities toward achieving financial independence through revitalization of State-owned industries that would soon be co-owned by private individuals and corporate bodies.

He promised the Director General of the Commission, Seye Oyeleye that the State was ready to key into the programmes of DAWN Commission for the aim of promoting investment in the State.

“We appreciate the DAWN Commission for her pivotal role in the region on integration and development. Oyo State is on board with InvestWest 2020. The administration of  His Excellency Engr. Seyi Makinde is ready and open for Investment especially in the area of resuscitating the State moribund companies and assets through PPP.

“Other areas of interest the State is working on is to improve the business environment in Oyo State and make it more conducive. We know this is where DAWN Commission has being active at the Regional level.

“Also, we are interested in having a functional Investment promotion agencies backed by law in Southwest, likewise the recreation of Dugbe as Central Business District (CBD) while maximizing the economic opportunities of the Lagos – Ibadan Railway project through the rail routes and stations.”

Director General, DAWN Commission, Seye Oyeleye, while welcoming the entourage from the state government said the body was planning towards the Western Nigeria Investment Summit (Investwest) 2020 calling for collaboration from the State.

Oyeleye thanked the Executive Assistant and his team for deeming it necessary to visit the office, asking newly appointed cabinet members across the region to do same.

At the NIPC office, the head of the Ibadan zone, Mr Lawal Hassan appreciated the efforts of the State administration on revamping local industries and thereby promoting investments and employment opportunities.

“Investment promotion is expensive but required in order to create wealth and job opportunities. The list moribund companies will be needed for profiling by the Commission. Before long, the State will become the preferred destination for investors,” he expressed optimism.

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This was disclosed by the state commissioner for Budget and Planning, Barr. Adeniyi Farinto while receiving delegates of Dawn Commission on a courtesy visit at his office in Ibadan.

The delegate visited the commissioner to Intimate him with their findings and recommendations on how Oyo State as a member State of the South – Western regional body could have a strong planning and budgeting architecture which would enhance growth and development of every sector in the State.

The Commissioner who spoke to newsmen after the visit noted that the establishment of budget and planning as an arm of the Ministry of Finance has put in place what he called a check and balance system for the Seyi Makinde-led administration to run an open, participatory, transparent and inclusive government.

He said ‘”The two arms:Budget and Planning, combined together will synergize so that we can have a budget that will derived from strategic planning and will be open to the public.

“There will be proper coordination of all departments in the area of data, projects, monitoring and evaluation so that whatever is budgeted for will be the needs of the citizens. This will make the citizens happy with government’s projects because such projects are the real needs of the people rather than projects embarked upon without carrying the citizens along.

The commissioner stated that the administration was brought in by popular votes of the people and it must do the biddings of the generality of the people of the State.

In her remark, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Budget and Planning, Mrs Mofoluke Adebiyi said the establishment of a Ministry of Budget and Planning is essential for proper inclusive socio-economic system for the development of the state.

Dawn Commission spokesperson, Mr Tosin Oke applauded the state government for the successful feat of establishing a single institution, targeted at coordinating budget and planning which the State hitherto lacked.

Oke however urged the Commissioner to facilitate the quick preparation of the State development plan which he said would enhance and as well track the implementation of state projects and programs.

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In collaboration with the Development Agenda for Western Nigeria, (DAWN), Governors Rotimi Akeredolu (Ondo), Seyi Makinde (Oyo), Babajide Sanwo-Olu (Lagos), Gboyega Oyetola (Osun), Kayode Fayemi (Ekiti) and Dapo Abiodun (Ogun) are expected to hold an enlarged stakeholders’ security summit.

DAWN Commission, with an aim to promote the developmental agenda of the South West will coordinate the summit.

Meanwhile, Governor Akeredolu had earlier assured that the proposed security summit would put an end to the activities of marauding herdsmen and address the insecurity challenges in the region.

Speaking on what to expect after the summit, the Chief Press Secretary to Akeredolu, Segun Ajiboye submitted: “You know we have held a security summit here in Ondo State and our governor is now taking the initiative to other states in the region.

“Governors of the six states at the meeting will find solutions to the menace. I want to assure the people of the region that an end is in sight to the spate of insecurity in the South West. “There will be a solution to these problems after the summit.”

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Speaking at the award ceremony on Monday which was held at the Lekan Are Hall, Government College Ibadan, the Chairman, COPE AFRICA, a UNDP consultant, Dr Adeyeye Adewole informed that the Centre deemed it fit to honour Olowofela due to his creative ideas, passion for development, innovative solutions to recurring problems in secondary sub-sector which led to the School Governing Board (SGB) initiative.

The Associate Professor, Adeyeye said from the onset the School Governing Boards (SGBs) initiative was one of the best thing that has happened to Oyo state in recent time. According to him, “every secondary schools across Oyo state is now being piloted by a governing council that work assiduously to enhance quality of administration; institute better policy directions; push for innovative practices and adopt creative solutions to specific problems and more importantly attract massive infrastructure and growth.

“In 2018 alone, the monetary worth of the quantum of infrastructure and other resources have been injected into Oyo State Secondary School system through the ingenuity of SGB is over N2billion. Many Schools are now experiencing phenomenal growth and infrastructure transformation through creative approach propelled outside the regular and mostly inadequate government provisions. On this special note, we commend the Oyo State School Governing Boards (SGBs) for this towering feat. We also commend the Chairmen and respected members of School Governing Boards (SGBs) across Oyo State for commitment in their services to humanity as well as implementation of legacy projects that has helped to reposition secondary education sub -sector for the benefits of unborn generation”, he added.

The COPE AFRICA chair further appreciated the Abiola Ajimobi led administration for this initiative ” that  has become the toast of many states across Nigeria”.

In his remarks, Professor Adeniyi Olowofela, while expressing gratitude to Governor Ajimobi for the opportunity given to serve explained, “when we started the School Governing Board (SGB) system, we have to do advocacy. We moved throughout the entire education zone in the state to do training upon training for people and we thank God that today the School Governing Board (SGB) system is well understood. And as a dynamic system, definitely there will be improvement, so as you are moving forward using the template of the manual, we belief strongly that we will ultimately reach the peak as far as the best practices in education are concerned.

” I also want to congratulate you because Development Agenda for Western Nigeria (DAWN Commission), look at the School Governing Board system and they have adopted it as a policy for the entire Southwest of Nigeria. When they told me that they will be giving me award as ICON for School Governing Board, to me this is a collective award, its not a token of recognition of your efforts, especially all the members of the School Governing Board that are not taking one kobo for their service.

“But I know that it gladdens their hearts that they are contributing immensely to education in the state and it has also afforded them the opportunity to change the paradigm in the state. It is easy to criticize, it is even easy to condemn government, but what are your contributions to make sure that Nigeria and Oyo state change from what it used to be to where we are supposed to be? So, I thank you for your support, especially when it is selfless.

” Let me also say that we have to commend the secretaries of the School Governing Board, those that are the principals of the schools. They are the ones that are there every now and then to know the problems facing a particular school system and we know that they have been judiciously and wisely spending the funds in conjunction with the members of the board, money accrue or accruable to the school either through education development levy or by some direct supports from old students or community at large in moving education forward in the state.

“It also gladdens my heart that the intervention fund of SUBEB; as at the last time we had it was 2012 but as at today, Oyo State Government has been able to access, even up to 2018. The simple implication is that this will also affect our primary education positively. When you also see that the statistics and the job done by the Ministry of Education and all education stakeholders led to the fact that the discovery of out of school children in the state.

“Based on the policy paper written by these gentlemen in various ministries, Oyo State Government has secured the sum of $500m to tackle the issue of out of school children in the next five years. This is a project that will outlived this government and that’s how a good government must think, you must think beyond immediate, you must think about the future.

“Essentially this project is inter ministerial in approach, it may be resident in the ministry of education, but everybody must participate in it because each child counts as far as education is concern.

“When you want to destroy a nation, destroy the education of that nation and when you want to build a nation build the education of that nation”, Olowofela continued.

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The governor lamented that Famakinwa’s sudden exit has left a sour taste in the mouths of all stakeholders in the development agenda for the South-West.

Contained in a statement issued by the Director, Bureau of Communication and Strategy in the Office of the Governor, Mr. Semiu Okanlawon, Aregbesola has played a pivotal role in the efforts to integrate the South-west and use the platform to engender a new growth for the people of the region.

“We are left speechless with this sudden loss,” said Aregbesola.

The statement reads further, “Famakinwa has been very dogged in the pursuit of that assignment given to him. He was committed wholeheartedly to the progress of the Yoruba. Through the Development Agenda for Western Nigeria, we have moved to accelerate regional revolutionary growth to rediscover our strength as a people of common heritage through agriculture, culture, education, and even sports development.

“Since the birth of that organization, Famakinwa has left no one in doubt on his comprehensive understanding of what we set out to do and the zeal with which he pursued the assignment has been commendable.”

The Governor said it is painful that the late Director General of DAWN did not live long enough to see the objectives of the organization come into full fruition before his untimely exit.

“We are however consoled by the fact that Famakinwa did his best to raise the consciousness of this region. We are also consoled by the fact that death is a necessary end and must come when it is its time. On behalf of the good people of the State of Osun, I commiserate with his immediate and extended families, members of the DAWN Commission family, my colleague governors and other stakeholders in the development agenda of our region. May the soul of Famakinwa rest with his Lord perfectly.”

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