From Vision to Action: Why This Summit Matters
The Southwest summit is more than a ceremonial conference — it is a deliberate effort to realign leadership, citizen engagement, and regional purpose. Organized by the Development Agenda for Western Nigeria (DAWN) Commission in collaboration with Afenifere, the two-day summit in Akure brings to the fore questions that have long simmered across the states: How can democracy be deepened? How can the region reclaim its influence in Nigeria’s governance? How can the voices of citizens be embedded in development planning?
From the outset, Ondo State Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa, the host and Chief Convenor, called for a leap from mere rhetoric to tangible change, emphasizing that dialogue must “birth action,” especially at a time when calls for fiscal federalism and devolution of powers resonate strongly across the region.
Lagos Governor and Chairman of the Southwest Governors’ Forum, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, echoed this sense of urgency. In his stirring address, he urged the region to “reclaim our heritage of innovation, education, and good governance,” positioning the Southwest as a beacon of Nigeria’s rebirth.
This gathering is perhaps the boldest display in recent years of a united Southwest voice asserting that democratic renewal and institutional reform are not optional but essential for national progress.
Key Voices & Highlights
🔹 Emphasis on Performance Over Party Labels
At the event, Reuben Fasoranti, leader of Afenifere, delivered a powerful admonishment: Southwest leadership must move beyond partisan divides and emphasize tangible impact. He urged that when Osun succeeds, others should replicate; when Lagos leads, neighboring states must adapt. “Stop competing over party labels; start competing over who has built more schools, created more jobs, and provided better healthcare,” he declared.
This resonates deeply in a region historically shaped by ideologies that center welfare over ideology — a political DNA Fasoranti insists must be revived for sustainable progress.
🔹 Calls for Power Devolution & True Federalism
Across speeches, there was a consistent demand: the devolution of powers to states. Governors questioned the concentration of authority at the center, arguing it suppresses regional innovation and responsiveness. “Shall we continue with centralization when true federalism demands devolution?” asked Governor Aiyedatiwa.
This push aligns with calls in policy and civil society circles for a rebalancing of Nigeria’s constitutional architecture to allow states greater control over revenue, security, and development planning.
🔹 Unity, Collaboration & Innovation
Sanwo-Olu emphasized the need for peer learning and regional coordination rather than competition. He urged governors to replicate successes across state lines — sharing innovative policies, blending economic strengths, and pooling resources.
He also reaffirmed support for the newly established Southwest Development Commission (SWDC) — a federal initiative intended to institutionalize regional planning and integration. According to Sanwo-Olu, the SWDC should evolve from concept to a robust coordinating body that translates regional aspirations into measurable progress.
🔹 A New Dawn for Regional Governance
As pointed out by Wale Akinlosotu, Ondo State’s Commissioner for Regional Integration, the summit symbolizes a new posture in Southwest governance: more inclusive, more accountable, more united. The event is being hailed as a model for how states can coalesce around shared destiny, even amid divergent politics.
Observers note that this is one of the few occasions where sitting governors, federal appointees, civic leaders, and royal traditons converge with a clear, public agenda — anchored not in political grandstanding but in shared accountability and regional purpose.
Our Mandate from Akure: Resolutions that Must Be Enforced
As stakeholders and citizens, our expectations must now turn to implementation. From the summit, several resolutions emerge that deserve our vigilance:
1. Institutionalize Citizen-Government Engagement
This summit should not be a one-off photo opportunity. Regular regional dialogues, town halls, and monitoring mechanisms must be built to hold leaders accountable.
2. Demand Measurable Deliverables
The calls for dialogue must translate into performance contracts, with clear metrics (e.g., health coverage, school infrastructure, job creation) and quarterly public reports.
3. Support Devolution of Power
As our governors and stakeholders advocate for decentralization, civil society and citizen movements must back legislative and constitutional pathways toward regional autonomy in revenue sharing, security, and economic planning.
4. Promote Cross-State Collaboration
We must encourage shared projects: multi-state road corridors, joint agricultural hubs, shared educational programs, and harmonization of policies across boundaries.
5. Elevate Youth and Women Voices
The future lies with our young people and women leaders. They must be embedded in decision-making, oversight, and policy design — not as token participants, but as full partners.
Writing Our Own Story 📝
Thanks to the presence of delegates and citizens today, Southwest has demonstrated its capacity to transform talk into resolve. As Governor Sanwo-Olu emphasized, our lost time must be reclaimed “twice as fast, twice as better.”
This region, once the intellectual heartbeat of Nigeria, now has the opportunity to light not just the path for its own states, but to serve as a model for national renewal — where democracy is participatory, leadership is accountable, and unity is collective strength.
To the delegates, thank you. To the people of the Southwest, your voice is the compass. To the governors: may today’s consensus become tomorrow’s progress.
Let this dialogue be the spark that lights a new era — one in which democracy is not just preserved, but deepened; where heritage is not just recalled, but reclaimed; where development is not just promised, but delivered.
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