Former Governor of Ekiti State and ex-Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, has commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for appointing Senator Olubunmi Adetunmbi and Dr. Charles Akinola as Chairman and Managing Director of the newly established South West Development Commission (SWDC), describing the duo as highly qualified and intellectually equipped for the roles.
Speaking with journalists, Dr. Fayemi described the appointments as a “round peg in a round hole,” noting that both Adetunmbi and Akinola have a strong history of contributing to the development architecture of the South West. He recalled their early involvement in platforms such as the Afenifere Renewal Group, the Yoruba Academy, and the Development Agenda for Western Nigeria (DAWN), which was launched in 2013 with the endorsement of all six South West governors.
“They are intellectually prepared both as development economists, policy advocates, and operations experts,” Fayemi said.
> “Their appointment is an inspired decision that aligns with the long-term vision of sustainable regional development.”
Fayemi, who also served as Nigeria’s Minister of Mines and Steel Development, revealed that the idea of regional development commissions was part of the All Progressives Congress (APC) manifesto in 2015, during his tenure as the party’s Director of Policy and Strategy. He expressed satisfaction that President Tinubu has taken steps to bring the vision to life by signing into law the remaining regional commissions that were not actualized during the Buhari administration.
“President Buhari’s administration was only able to implement the North East and North West Development Commissions. President Tinubu has accelerated that vision by establishing the remaining four, including the SWDC,” Fayemi noted.
On the expected performance of the South West Development Commission, Fayemi expressed hope that it would not become another bureaucratic body with minimal impact. He pointed to the efforts of the South West Governors Forum, which in 2020 established a technical committee chaired by Dr. Akinola to steer the vision of regional integration through targeted infrastructure and digital economy initiatives.
“The Commission must avoid cosmetic ‘empowerment’ programs and focus on initiatives like regional energy and transportation infrastructure, and digital economy projects that bring real value to the people,” he said.
Fayemi concluded by expressing strong confidence in the new leadership of the SWDC, stating that with the right enabling environment and a clear sense of purpose, Senator Adetunmbi, Dr. Akinola, and their team are well-positioned to deliver tangible developmental outcomes across the South West region.