Tinubu’s appointments to SWDC will drive regional growth — Fayemi

Former Governor of Ekiti State, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, has commended President Bola Tinubu for appointing Senator Olubunmi Adetunmbi as Chairman and Dr. Charles Akinola as Managing Director of the newly established South West Development Commission (SWDC).

Describing the appointments as “round pegs in round holes,” Fayemi said both men are well-equipped to lead the Commission due to their deep-rooted involvement in regional development and their expertise as economists and policy strategists.

“These are intellectually prepared leaders who have been instrumental in shaping the region’s development narrative — from the Afenifere Renewal Group to the Yoruba Academy and the DAWN Commission,” Fayemi stated in an interview with journalists.

He revealed that the vision for Regional Development Commissions was first included in the All Progressives Congress (APC) manifesto in 2015, when he served as the party’s Director of Policy and Strategy.

While the Buhari administration managed to establish the North East and North West commissions, Fayemi lauded President Tinubu for completing the initiative by signing the remaining four commissions into law, including the SWDC.

Fayemi, a former chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum, expressed optimism that the SWDC would go beyond bureaucracy to deliver tangible results.

He recalled that in 2020, the South West Governors Forum had set up a technical committee chaired by Dr. Akinola to ensure the commission focused on impactful projects such as regional infrastructure, energy, and the digital economy, rather than on “cosmetic” empowerment schemes.

“With their institutional knowledge and clear focus, I am confident Senator Adetunmbi and Dr. Akinola will lead the Commission successfully. Their leadership should help deepen regional integration and accelerate real development across the South West,” Fayemi concluded.