Ondo State government at the weekend expressed its commitment to the implementation of the South west agenda on regional integration. Commissioner for Regional Integration and Special Duties, Prof. Bayonile Ademodi, dropped the hint while declaring open a workshop on the implementation of Southwest programme document on service delivery held in Akure, the state capital.
Participants were drawn from all relevant ministries, departments and agencies. According to him, the workshop was organised by the ministry in collaboration with the Development Agenda for the Western Nigeria (DAWN) Commission. Ademodi said the programme is equally to sensitise the workforce on the need to ensure reform in the public sector and kick-start the implementation of the South west agenda.
He said the ministry which was created by the present administration in the state, has keyed into the DAWN agenda for rapid integration and development of the states in south western part of the country, stressing that the ministry has been sensitising various sectors to ensure they understand the agenda. To this end,he charged the participants to avail themselves the opportunity of being more informed and educated on western regional integration so as to facilitate the programme in the state.
The Director of Regional Integration in the ministry, Pastor Edmond Akintunde, affirmed that each region has shared tradition, history, language among other similarities, hence the need to unite and speak with one voice to achieve development. He noted that the DAWN document will be used as a guide to develop and implement the Southwest regional development agenda in each state to improve service delivery.
The Director who informed that the ministry’s mandate is to be the coordinating hub and oversees all activities of regional groups and organisations, noted that they are to ensure enabling environment for the development of bitumen in the state. The DAWN commission representatives at the event, who were the facilitators, took the participants through what the commission is all about and equally sensitised them on the need for them, as the drivers of government policies, to key into the laid down objectives of regional integration in the Southwest.