*Photo: Dr. Charles Akindiji Akinola*
Ondo State Governor, Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa, has congratulated Dr. Charles Akindiji Akinola, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the South West Development Commission (SWDC), on his 70th birthday.
In a goodwill message, Governor Aiyedatiwa described Dr. Akinola as a visionary leader and development strategist whose commitment to inclusive growth is beginning to drive development in the Southwest region.
The Governor noted that Dr. Akinola’s transformative leadership at the SWDC is reshaping the economic landscape of the region, with Ondo State set to benefit significantly from the Commission’s agenda in agriculture, integrated infrastructure, industrialisation, and investment.
Governor Aiyedatiwa particularly commended Dr. Akinola for his pivotal role in the establishment of the SWDC. He said the Commission’s current development focus aligns with Ondo State’s priorities in agriculture transformation, infrastructural renewal, and energy development.
The Governor also highlighted Dr. Akinola’s previous service as Senior Special Assistant to the President on Marine and Blue Economy, noting that it resonates strongly with Ondo State’s vast maritime resources and port development.
He further singled out the SWDC’s TransComms initiative as a project that complements the state’s drive to make agriculture the anchor for broader prosperity.
Governor Aiyedatiwa acknowledged Dr. Akinola’s distinguished career, including his tenure as Chief of Staff to the Governor of Osun State and his pioneering work on the Global Memoranda of Understanding in the Niger Delta. The initiative, he said, set a benchmark for cross-sector partnerships between communities, government, and multinational corporations.
As Dr. Akinola marks this milestone, Governor Aiyedatiwa extended heartfelt birthday wishes and prayed for renewed strength, divine wisdom, and good health as he continues to lead the SWDC towards a future of shared prosperity for the Southwest.