SWDC forms committee to oversee TransComs delivery

Kemi Olaitan in Ibadan

The South‑West Development Commission (SWDC) has inaugurated an Action Committee tasked with converting TransComs, its rural‑transformation programme, from concept to delivery. The committee will implement pilot projects and prepare the framework for a regional scale‑up within 180 days.

Dr. Charles ‘Diji Akinola, Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer (MD/CEO) of SWDC, inaugurated the committee at the conclusion of the TransComs co‑creation roundtable held at the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) in Ibadan. He said the committee will act as the Commission’s delivery engine, moving the project swiftly from stakeholder engagement to measurable on‑the‑ground impact.

The committee will be co‑led by Dr. Akinola and Prof. Oyebanji Oyelaran‑Oyeyinka, Programme Director of the Foundation for Technology Innovation and Sustainable Development (FTID), which serves as SWDC’s technical partner for the initiative.

Its structure is built around four pillars intended to ensure credibility and mitigate execution risks. Prominent development‑finance institutions, including the African Development Bank (AfDB) and the Bank of Industry (BoI), will partner with the South‑West Agribusiness Company (SWAgCo) to anchor the finance and investment stream.

Policy and coordination responsibilities are represented by the Development Agenda for Western Nigeria (DAWN) Commission, the Southwest Governors’ Forum, and the Commissioners for Agriculture and Budget from Lagos, Ogun, Oyo, Osun, Ondo and Ekiti states.