PRESS RELEASE
Thursday 20th November 2025
The Development Agenda for Western Nigeria (DAWN) Commission and the Southwest Development Commission (SWDC) today formalized a strategic working relationship aimed at advancing coordinated regional development across Nigeria’s Southwest zone.
The partnership was sealed during a courtesy visit by SWDC’s executive management team, led by the Managing Director Dr. Charles ‘Diji Akinola, to DAWN Commission’s Cocoa House office in Ibadan. The visit marks the official commencement of symbiotic institutional collaboration between the two organizations.
Dr. Akinola was accompanied by key members of the SWDC leadership including Rt. Hon. Adefunmilayo Tejuosho, Executive Director, Corporate Services; Hon. Tele Ogunjobi FCA, Executive Director, Finance; and Hon. Fatai Ibikunle, Executive Director, Commerce and Environmental Development.
Under this arrangement, SWDC will leverage DAWN Commission’s twelve years of operational experience, established frameworks, proven methodologies and convening power in regional integration and development. This strategic approach is designed to accelerate SWDC’s startup of full operations while avoiding the typical challenges associated with new institutional setup.
“This partnership represents a pragmatic approach to regional development,” said Dr. Akinola. “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 partnership will focus initially on priority sectors including agriculture modernization, railway infrastructure, human and social capital development, industrialization, as well as technology and innovation, with both institutions committed to eliminating duplication of efforts and optimizing resource deployment for maximum regional impact.
Dr. Seye Oyeleye, Director-General of DAWN Commission, welcomed the collaboration, noting that it exemplifies the spirit of cooperation necessary for meaningful regional transformation. “Our twelve years of experience working across Lagos, Ogun, Oyo, Osun, Ondo, and Ekiti states have taught us valuable lessons. We are pleased to share this knowledge with SWDC to ensure the Southwest region benefits from coordinated and efficient development interventions.”
Both institutions expressed profound gratitude to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR for his strategic leadership in integrating regional development as a critical pillar of national development. The establishment of development commissions across Nigeria’s geopolitical zones reflects the President’s commitment in addressing regional disparities and unlocking the full potential of every part of the country.
Akinola and Oyeleye also commended the Southwest Governors’ Forum, under the chairmanship of His Excellency, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State, for their unwavering commitment and support in prioritizing regional development and fostering the enabling environment for institutional collaboration and shared prosperity across the Southwest.
This collaboration signals a new era of institutional synergy in Southwest Nigeria’s development landscape, with both organizations committed to delivering tangible results for the region’s estimated 40 million residents.
Jointly Signed:
Dr. Charles ‘Diji Akinola
Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer
Southwest Development Commission
Dr. Seye Oyeleye
Director-General
Development Agenda for Western Nigeria (DAWN) Commission