Vice President Kashim Shettima has called on regional development commissions across the country to embrace innovation, uphold integrity and strengthen collaboration to effectively deliver on their mandates.
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‎He made the remarks on Wednesday while receiving the leadership of the South-West Development Commission (SWDC), led by its Board Chairman, Olubunmi Adetunmbi, during a courtesy visit to the Presidential Villa in Abuja.
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‎According to the vice president, the establishment of the regional development commissions reflects the federal government’s commitment to unlocking the economic potential of every region and promoting national prosperity. He credited President Bola Tinubu for providing the vision that led to their creation.
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‎Shettima said the Renewed Hope Agenda is focused on translating government policies into meaningful improvements in the lives of Nigerians, stressing that the South-West, with its rich history of enterprise, education, innovation and industry, occupies a strategic position in the country’s development.
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‎He urged the commission to concentrate on delivering measurable results rather than becoming burdened by bureaucracy, noting that Nigerians would judge its performance by visible achievements such as improved infrastructure, job creation, support for businesses and positive community development.
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‎The vice president also stressed the importance of partnerships, encouraging the commission to work closely with state governments in the South-West, traditional rulers, private sector players and development partners.
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‎He added that regional development thrives when institutions cooperate rather than compete, advising the commission to engage with other regional development commissions to exchange ideas and adopt best practices that can improve development across the country.
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‎Shettima further emphasised that all projects undertaken by the commission should be transparent, measurable and attractive to private sector investment, adding that the government’s responsibility is to provide an enabling environment for businesses and investors.
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‎He reaffirmed the federal government’s commitment to supporting initiatives that promote regional growth and contribute to Nigeria’s overall development.
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‎Earlier, SWDC Chairman Olubunmi Adetunmbi praised the Tinubu administration for its economic and structural reforms, describing the creation of the regional development commissions as one of the key outcomes of those efforts.
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‎He also commended Shettima’s leadership of the National Economic Council (NEC), saying the council had improved governance at the subnational level through impactful projects nationwide.
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‎Adetunmbi outlined the commission’s proposed development roadmap, which includes investments in infrastructure, human capital development and other priority sectors across the South-West.
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‎He disclosed that the commission plans to carry out a comprehensive baseline study to guide its programmes and appealed for the vice president’s support in fostering collaboration with state governments through the NEC to prevent duplication of projects.