Over 800 Southwest stakeholders to engage FG on policy initiatives 

More than 800 stakeholders from the six states in the Southwest are set to engage the Federal Government on its policies affecting the region at a summit jointly organised by the Yoruba Pan Socio-Cultural Group, Afenifere, and the Development Agenda for Western Nigeria Commission (DAWN) in Akure, Ondo State.

Ondo State Governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, is expected to lead the delegation to the event with the theme, “Strengthening Democracy Through Dialogue: Assessing Progress, Charting the Future,” scheduled for October 9–10, 2025, in Akure.

Chairman of the Steering Committee, Dr. Akin Onigbinde SAN, said the summit aims to create a structured dialogue mechanism between the Southwest region and federal and state authorities to ensure regional voices inform national policy decisions.

“This summit marks a new chapter in democratic engagement for the Southwest region,” stated Dr. Onigbinde, a former Speaker of the Oyo State House of Assembly.

“We are creating an institutional framework that will ensure the voices of over 40 million Southwest residents are heard and considered in governance decisions.”

Providing more details, Dr. Seye Oyeleye, DAWN Commission’s Director General, said a distinctive feature of the summit is its emphasis on evidence-based presentations.

“We demand accountability through evidence,” he said, adding that the summit “presents an opportunity for Southwest citizens to get first-hand information about government policies.”

Programme Coordinator, Professor Anthony Kila, said the summit will bring together key stakeholders including Southwest Governors (Lagos, Ogun, Oyo, Osun, Ondo, Ekiti), Federal Ministers and appointees, traditional rulers, religious leaders from Christian, Islamic, and traditional faiths, academic institutions, thought leaders, the private sector, professional associations, cooperatives, farmers and market leaders, civil society organisations and grassroots representatives.

He explained that citizens should expect direct answers to their questions in six thematic sessions covering Fiscal Reforms and National Planning, Economic Development and Job Creation, Social Services and Social Development, Infrastructure and Transportation, Human Capital Development, and Security and Governance.

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