Charles Akinola: The Perfect Fit For The Job

In a move widely hailed as both strategic and symbolic, President Bola Tinubu on May 8, 2025, appointed Dr. Charles Akinola as the inaugural Managing Director of the South West Development Commission (SWDC). The decision has resonated beyond political circles, earning praise from traditional rulers and policy analysts alike.

Akinola’s appointment is being described as a masterstroke—an alignment of expertise and purpose. Oba Ajibade Ogunoye II, the Olowo of Owo, called the news “gratifying,” echoing the sentiment felt across the Yoruba heartland that this was no mere political calculation, but a timely deployment of seasoned leadership.

With over 30 years of experience straddling public policy, governance, and international development, Dr. Akinola is no stranger to transformative impact. His academic foundation, sharpened at institutions like Harvard, and his deep involvement in public service in Osun State, make him uniquely equipped to steer the SWDC toward inclusive and sustainable regional development.

As Chief of Staff in Osun, Akinola was instrumental in implementing wage reforms, revitalizing the education sector, and driving economic policy. Perhaps most notably, he led the O-REAP agricultural initiative, a program that redefined food security and rural empowerment.

But what adds an extra layer of resonance to this appointment is Akinola’s prior role as chairman of the committee that conceptualized the SWDC. In an almost poetic twist, he now returns not as architect, but as builder—tasked with actualizing the very vision he once sketched.

Observers say the synergy is rare: a man who not only understands the mission but authored its blueprint. For the South West, yearning for infrastructural renewal and economic inclusiveness, Charles Akinola’s stewardship signals a turning point—one where competence and continuity converge.