By Daniel Oluwatobiloba Popoola
Vice President Kashim Shettima has urged the South-West Development Commission to measure its success not by the volume of its internal processes but by the quality of roads built, jobs created, businesses supported and communities transformed.
Shettima gave the charge on Wednesday, 29 July, 2026 when he received the commission’s management on a courtesy visit to the Aso Rock Presidential Villa, Abuja, addressing a delegation led by the board Chairman, Olubunmi Adetunmbi.
Details of the engagement were disclosed in a statement signed by the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Communications in the Office of the Vice President, Stanley Nkwocha.
The Vice President explained that the vision behind the creation of new regional development commissions was to unlock and harness the unique strengths of each geopolitical zone for Nigeria’s collective prosperity.
He said the South-West region, with its history of enterprise, innovation, education and industry, had a pivotal role to play in the country’s development journey, stressing that the commission must be known for delivery rather than bureaucracy, since Nigerians would measure its success by tangible outcomes.
Shettima emphasised collaboration as central to the commission’s effectiveness, urging it to work closely with state governments across the South-West, traditional institutions, the private sector and development partners, and to avoid treating sister bodies as competitors.
He noted that successful regions across the world were those that invested in innovation, human capital, technology and regional integration, expressing confidence that the South-West was well positioned to lead Nigeria in these areas.
He stressed that development succeeded when institutions collaborated rather than competed, urging the commission to engage in peer review by reaching out to other regional development commissions and sharing ideas that could transform the fortunes of the various regions.
He further urged the commission to be guided throughout its work by integrity, innovation and results, reaffirming the Federal Government’s support for every genuine effort that advanced regional development and national prosperity.
Earlier, Adetunmbi commended President Bola Tinubu’s administration for its economic and structural reforms, including the creation of the regional development commissions, and praised Shettima’s leadership of the National Economic Council for driving tangible governance improvements at the subnational level.
Adetunmbi briefed the Vice President on the commission’s proposed roadmap for interventions in infrastructure and human capital development, disclosing plans to conduct a baseline study to guide its programmes. He also sought guidance on working harmoniously with state governments through the National Economic Council to avoid duplication of efforts.
Also present at the meeting were the Managing Director of the commission, Dr Charles Akinola, executive directors and members representing the various states and geopolitical zones on the board.
The South-West Development Commission is one of several regional development bodies established under the Tinubu administration to complement the work of existing commissions such as the Niger Delta Development Commission.
