Afenifere, DAWN host South West Governors, Ministers
By Omolade Adegbiyi
The six Governors and Ministers from the South West will in early October gather in Akure, the Ondo State capital in a summit meant to engage the people of the region.
The initiative is at the instance of Development Agenda for Western Nigeria, (DAWN) and Afenifere, the Pan-Yoruba socio-cultural group.
The 2-day citizen-government engagement summit is scheduled for October 9 and 10 in Akure.
A statement made available to Irohinoodua and signed by Segun Balogun said the summit with the theme “Strengthening Democracy Through Dialogue: Assessing Progress, Charting the Future,” will bring together close to 1000 regional stakeholders to engage directly with the Federal Government of Nigeria on policy initiatives.
The event will be hosted by the Governor of Ondo State, Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa of Ondo State and supported by all the Southwest Governors.
According to the steering committee chairman, Dr. Akin Onigbinde SAN, the summit aims to create a structured dialogue mechanism between the Southwest region and federal and state authorities, in order 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 information on the summit, Dr. Seye Oyeleye, DAWN Commission’s Director General, said a unique feature of the congress is its requirement for evidence-based presentations. “We demand accountability through evidence,” he said, while adding that the summit “presents an opportunity for Southwest citizens to get first-hand information about government policies.”
The summit’s programme coordinator, Professor Anthony Kila, said the event will feature an all-embracing participation from key stakeholders including: Southwest Governors (Lagos, Ogun, Oyo, Osun, Ondo, Ekiti), Federal Ministers and appointees, traditional rulers from across the region, religious leaders from Christian, Islamic, and traditional faiths, academic institutions and thought leaders, private sector and professional associations, cooperatives society leaders, farmers and market leaders, civil society organizations and grassroots organisations.
Invited also are the Alliance for Yoruba Democratic Movements, (AYDM), a coalition of 130 Pan Yoruba groups, Oodua Nationalist Coalition, (ONAC) and groups from Itsekiri, Kwara and Kogi States.
He said Southwest citizens should prepare to get 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.
About the Organizers
AFENIFERE is the foremost Yoruba sociopolitical organization, advocating for regional interests and democratic governance. The Development Agenda for Western Nigeria (DAWN) Commission is the technocratic institution established by the six Southwest States to manage their regional integration and development agenda.
