The Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of South-West Development Commission, Dr Charles Akinola, has disclosed that the commission is determined to deliver on its statutory mandate in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Tinubu.

He stated this while addressing newsmen after the inaugural board meeting, held in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, on Friday.

Akinola explained that the establishment of the commission was a landmark intervention by President Tinubu to address the developmental challenges of the region in a coordinated, strategic and sustainable manner.

He explained that the commission’s mandate included driving infrastructure development, fostering industrialisation, strengthening regional integration, creating jobs, and promoting human capital development across the six states of the South-West.

“Our duty is to catalyse investments that will make the region a competitive economic bloc within a prosperous Nigeria. By focusing on infrastructure, innovation, education, and enterprise, we shall not only unlock new opportunities for our people but also strengthen Nigeria’s overall economic resilience.

“Rather than pursuing fragmented projects in isolation, the One Bloc Development Agenda will allow us to pool resources, coordinate efforts, and ensure that the South-West speaks with one voice in terms of development priorities,” he added.

Akinola said that, whether in agriculture, technology, or transport, the commission will pursue regional solutions that cut across state boundaries and deliver shared prosperity.

He, therefore, called on all stakeholders, including State Governments, private sector leaders, traditional institutions, and civil society organisations to support the commission’s vision.