Southwest engagement summit postponed

Akure, Ondo – The highly anticipated Southwest Citizen-Government Engagement Summit has been postponed from its original dates of October 9-10, 2025, to October 29-30, 2025, according to an official announcement by the Steering Committee of the Southwest Summit.

The decision was disclosed on Sunday by the Development Agenda for Western Nigeria (DAWN) Commission via a post on X, reflecting a strategic move to enhance the event's impact.

The summit, themed "Strengthening Democracy Through Dialogue: Assessing Progress, Charting the Future," will now take place at the International Conference Centre (The Dome) in Akure, Ondo State, with His Excellency, Governor Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa, serving as the Chief Host.

Dr. Akin Onigbinde, SAN, the chairman of the Steering Committee, explained that the postponement aims to ensure a more meaningful platform for engagement between citizens and government.

He emphasized that the additional time will enable comprehensive consultations with all participating ministries, agencies, and stakeholders to optimize logistical arrangements and facilitate substantive dialogue.

"The additional time will enable us to conduct comprehensive consultations with all participating ministries, agencies, and stakeholders; ensure optimal logistical arrangements that facilitate substantive dialogue; and coordinate effectively with all six Southwest state governments and participating institutions," Dr. Onigbinde stated.

He added that the general public’s commitment to delivering an impactful, inclusive, and productive summit will serve as a landmark platform for citizen-government engagement in the Southwest region.

The summit promises to be a non-partisan, structured engagement platform convened by Afenifere, a prominent Yoruba sociopolitical organization, in partnership with the DAWN Commission.

The two-day event will feature technical partnership from the DAWN Commission and will cover critical topics including Economic Development, Job Creation, Social Services, Fiscal Reforms, Infrastructure and Transportation, Human Capital Development, and Security and Governance.

The summit will bring together a diverse group of stakeholders, including Southwest Governors, Federal Ministers and appointees of Southwest extraction, Federal legislators, traditional rulers, religious leaders, civil society organizations, private sector representatives, youth, student groups, and women’s organizations from across the six Southwest states.