By Matthew Denis
The Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the South West Development Commission (SWDC), Dr. Charles Diji Akinola, has disclosed that the zone is well positioned for collaboration with state governments in boosting industrial and mechanised farming activities.
Speaking on the sidelines of the G20 South Africa 2025 G20 Africa Outreach Meeting on Industrialisation and Agriculture, held in Abuja on Monday, he said the event centred on solidarity, equality, and sustainability for African industrial activities.
The MD said, “We have to understand the fact that agriculture and industrialisation are key pillars of economic growth, and that is how the South West Development Commission is situating this.
“I’m here especially because of the interest that we have in the Special Agricultural Processing Zone (SAPZ). We have one which is in Oyo — a flagship which is operational — and we are encouraged by some of the early successes we are witnessing. The second one, which is in Ogun State, is on the way, and we intend to use this as a beacon of success and see how to mirror what we are doing in other states that don’t have SAPZs, funded by the African Development Bank and the Islamic Development Bank.”
With over 30 years of experience in public service, international development, and strategic governance, Dr. Akinola is specialised in agricultural development, sustainable economic growth, and policy implementation across Nigeria and West Africa. His impressive credentials and wealth of experience make him an ideal candidate to drive growth and development in the South West region.
Top speakers included the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, H.E. Abubakar Kyari, who shared Nigeria’s national experience linking agricultural productivity and food systems with agro-processing industries; and Senator John Owan Enoh, Minister of State for Industry, Trade and Investment, who discussed linking Nigeria’s agro-industrial policy with Africa’s regional transformation and AfCFTA.
Others who spoke at the G20 Africa 2025 Summit include Mr. Ben Joubert, Acting Director, Regional Organisations, Department of International Relations and Cooperation; Ambassador Bukar Hamman, Nigeria’s G20 Sherpa; H.E. Salaheddine Abbas Ibrahima, High Commissioner of Cameroon to Nigeria and Dean of the Africa Group in Abuja; Ambassador Jose Bamoquina Zau, Ambassador of Angola to Nigeria and Representative of the African Union Chair, G20; and Ms. S. Shange-Buthane, G20 Presidency, among others.