The document outlines the Development Agenda for Western Nigeria (DAWN), which seeks to define a roadmap for progress in the region through encouraging integrated development strategies across the southwest states. It identifies pillars for development, such as cultural values, population, resources, and tourism potential. The DAWN roadmap is presented as leveraging objectives like strengthening trade, infrastructure development, and institutional capacity. Critical action imperatives for achieving the development goals include leadership commitment, widespread buy-in, technical support, clear deliverables, and institutional frameworks for long-term sustainable implementation.

1. The DAWN Road Mapping and the Critical Action Imperatives
Presented by:
Dipo Famakinwa
Managing Director
Development Qualitatives Limited
October 2011
OUTLINE
1. Presenting DAWN
2. DAWN Roadmapping
3. The Grand Ideas
4. Attainment Intentions
5. Critical Action Imperatives
6. Conclusion
PRESENTING DAWN
DAWN, simply put is: Development Agenda for Western Nigeria.
— Outcome of several strategic engagements to define a Roadmap for
progress for the people of the Region.
DAWN is essentially an agenda for good governance that seeks to
commit the leadership of the Southwest to governance actions that
deliver impactful results to the people.
DAWN seeks to encourage the Southwest States to develop a
common set of integrated development strategies that enable the Region
and its citizens to experience a well-managed process of development
across all spheres of existence
The strategic objective is to merge strengths, leverage comparative
advantages, encourage peer learning and minimise duplication of efforts
DAWN takes into consideration the following specific possibilities:
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2. ¡ The development of the Southwest along regional lines as the
first step in creating a larger regional market for commerce, trade,
investments and industrial development.
¡ Harnessing the potential of the Region as an economic bloc.
¡ The limiting nature of resources, thereby seeking their
maximisation, through joint exploration of innovative solutions
to achieve structural, social, economic and physical development.
Presenting a regional economic bloc for development assistance,
multilateral interventions and FDIs.
Exploring mutual possibilities, using historical and contiguously
feasible platforms transcending immediate sub-regional confines,
with Edo, Delta, Kwara, Kogi and the Diaspora presenting such
prospects in varying dimensions.
DAWN focuses on the development of a Yoruba identity drawing
upon our heritage, history, values and talents
It presents an Agenda for social transformation using well-defined
Pillars of Development to create scenarios that ensure sustainable and
better living standards for our people irrespective of status, gender,
demography or religion
The Pillars of Development are hinged on harnessing the following:
÷ Enviable historical trajectory
÷ Pro-development cultural values
÷ Huge population from which to grow a modern
workforce
÷ Abundant land and mineral resources
÷ Development-friendly vegetation belts from mangrove
to savannah
÷ Abundant water and solar resources
÷ Attractive destinations for eco and cultural tourism
A COMPELLING NECESSITY
Highest PCI
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3. • FCT
• Bayelsa
• Rivers
• Akwa Ibom
• Lagos
• Delta
Development Qualitatives Limited
11/14/2007
DAWN ROADMAPPING
Van Langenhove identifies eight core objectives that must be
fulfilled under a regional integration initiative which the DAWN
Framework leverages. These are:
÷ The strengthening of trade integration in the region
÷ The creation of an appropriate enabling environment for
private sector development
÷ The development of infrastructure programmes in
support of economic growth and regional integration
÷ The development of strong public sector institutions
and good governance
÷ The reduction of social exclusion and the development
of an inclusive civil society
÷ Contribution to peace and security in the region
÷ The building of environment programmes at the
regional level
÷ The strengthening of the region’s interaction with other
regions of the world
The Roadmap appreciates the federate status of Nigeria, and the need to
work within the confines of its imperfect and skewed constitution, while
encouraging strong agitation for a Nigerian constitution that is truly
Federal.
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4. The Roadmap recognises that the existence of progressive
governments in the region provides a rare opportunity to unlock the
region’s potential for world-class development.
The DAWN Roadmap emphasises the need for setting Big, Hairy,
Audacious Goals (BHAGs) and find comparability in the Big League
nations.
As in the Malaysian Government Transformation Programme, the
DAWN Roadmap sets an agenda for Big Results Fast.
The DAWN Framework envisages the necessity for scaling, starting
from the low hanging fruits and progressively scaling up programmes
and projects, as well as continuously building on achievements and
successes.
ROADMAPPING
There must be buy-ins across all levels of the society – on the streets,
in the markets, among the political leadership, the organised private
sector, the media, the development partners and development finance
institutions, the civil society, the Diaspora, the international community,
international fund managers and venture capitalists.
DAWNprescribes a mass mobilisation Agenda that rallies every
individual, groups, and all segments of the society for a new culture of
hardwork, productivity and impact leading to exceptional regional
development.
The DAWN Framework places a premium on sharing of successful
cases and models of development within individual States in the Region
for possible adoption
DAWNvests the authority for governance action on the political
leadership, but gives the ultimate sovereignty to the people of the
Region.
DAWNencourages an institutional framework that delivers outcomes
beyond the narrow confines of individuals, groups, and interests capable
of mitigating or outrightly sabotaging the process
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5. DAWN envisages the establishment of a mechanism for performance
measurement and evaluation that puts every political leader and public
service functionary under the microscope, and at the same time
demanding responsible governance and accountability.
Components of the DAWN Roadmap that can be dimensioned for our
people in Kwara and Kogi, and beyond the Homeland, need to be
pursued. This speaks especially to the issues of our language, culture
and heritage as well as ICT and Education.
COMPELLING URGENCY
There is an urgent need to arrest the invidious halt in the great
developmental strides already in full flight in not too distant past
The concentration of legislative power and fiscal resources in the
federal government, at the expense of the states and regions allows the
federal government to control and even manipulate the pace and nature
of economic development of various regions.
The often ethnic colouration of Nigerian politics and the predilection
of dominant groups in government to act as ethnic champions make
groups not dominant in the government vulnerable.
The use of government levers and powers to negatively affect the
development of regional groups not dominant in the federal government
makes every nationality vulnerable.
The continued growth of the economy of the Southwest and
employment of Yoruba without glass ceiling is contingent upon
mobilising capital for economic activities in Yorubaland.
As long as revenue allocation remains a sharing of spoils,
Southwest’s share of federal revenue will always be sub-optimal and
unfair
Absence of Yoruba in commanding heights of regulatory agencies is
weakening Yoruba influence in some strategic industries e.g. banking,
finance, and telecoms.
THE GRAND IDEAS
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6. Heritage issues – common identity, common symbols, accentuating
that which makes us different and showcasing all that is inherently
positive about us
Common institutions for:
Strategic human capital development and capacity building
Civil service capacity building
Environmental and geophysical management – of our ecology,
forestry, biodiversity, etc
Research and development
Youth and sports development
Regional development activity centres around strategic hubs,
leveraging comparative advantages
Integrated, multi-modal transportation infrastructure, connecting
regional and trans-regional development and activity centres
Common urban architecture – housing, market and urban development
Dedicated Yoruba strategy and development think-tank.
Strategic Hubs of Developments
DEVELOPMENT ACTIVITY
Ekiti Education & Human Capital, Agriculture and Tourism
Lagos Commerce, Industries and Services
Ogun Oil & Gas, Energy & Industries
Ondo Oil & Gas, Energy, Agriculture (Cocoa)
Osun Tourism, Agriculture (Cocoa & Animal Husbandry)
Oyo Agriculture value-chain – processing, packaging and SMEs
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7. ATTAINMENT INTENTIONS
¡ Attain developed country infrastructure, human capital, living
standards and governance by 2020
¡ Ensure South-West Nigeria records the highest annual average
rate of growth in GDP and HDI in Sub-Saharan Africa between
2012 and 2020.
¡ Reposition governance and public institutions for effective
service delivery
¡ Cultural awakening for positive values, ethos and norms of
behaviour
¡ Restore South West Nigeria’s competitiveness and its position
of leadership in Nigeria’s economic, social and political
development.
¡ Enthrone the private sector at the commanding height of
critical economic activities
¡ Attain revenue dignity
¡ Transform the agriculture sector such that it becomes a source
of employment and entrepreneurship for graduates and young
persons
Become the leading tourism destination in West Africa
Ensure access to high quality education for all citizens
Partner with global universities and multilaterals to establish a
world-class, multi-campus university jointly owned by the states
Produce another Nobel by 2030
Take ownership and leadership of FSS 2020 objective of
Lagos as an international financial centre
Ensure a safe and conducive environment for economic, social
and political development based on local knowledge and
community ownership
Re-orientate and reposition our youth to secure the future
CRITICAL ACTION IMPERATIVES
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8. Leadership resolve and determined action
Across-board buy-in and ownership
Technical midwife
Specific deliverables and time-lining
Institutional framework for sustainable action
Launching the plan
Charting the forward plan
Running with the plan
CONCLUSION
“The political leadership must lead the charge, as it not tasking to lead the
Yoruba people and enjoy their support and goodwill. However, good,
responsible, responsive and impactful governance is a sine-qua-non to reap
such benefits. We would be doing ourselves and future generations a world of
good by championing this cause at this point in our history.”
As our people will say …….. ‘O d’owo yin o’
Thank you for listening
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