Afenifere intelligentsia unveils 2050 development blueprint for Southwest

The Afenifere Intelligentsia Group, a body of eminent Yoruba professionals and scholars, has announced plans to design a long-term development agenda for the Southwest, tagged – “Southwest Development Plan 2050.”

The move, according to the group, is aimed at charting a coordinated and sustainable roadmap for the region’s growth over the next 25 years.

Kole Omololu, the National Organising Secretary of Afenifere, in a statement made available to journalists on Sunday in Akure, the Ondo State capital said the plan would be implemented in three stages: short term (2026–2030), medium term (2031–2040), and long term (2041–2050).

Omololu said the decision followed a review of submissions from the Southwest Summit held in Akure, where stakeholders emphasised the need for strategic regional planning to complement State and Federal initiatives.

He added that the group would work closely with existing regional institutions such as the Southwest Governors Forum, the Development Agenda for Western Nigeria (DAWN), the Odua Group, and the proposed Southwest Development Commission (SWDC).

According to him, these collaborations would harmonise various development efforts and ensure continuity of vision across administrations.

Omololu described the initiative as “a blueprint for collective advancement”, stressing that it would position the Southwest as a model of economic strength, social cohesion, and cultural renewal within Nigeria.