Foundations plan community devt projects

The Development Agenda for Western Nigeria Commission and the Ara Growth and Development Foundation have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to implement the Community-Led Development Toolkit project.

The partnership was announced during a ceremony at the DAWN Commission’s office in Ibadan, attended by the Alara of Ara Kingdom, Oba Olubayo Windapo, Abidogun 1, who led the AGDF delegation.

According to a statement shared with Sunday PUNCH, the COLDET project “seeks to transform community development.”

Speaking at the event, the Chairman of the AGDF Steering Committee, Dr Tunji Olugbodi, said the ARA2035 agenda would transform the ancient community.

Olugbodi noted that the agenda aligned with DAWN’s COLDET project, making it a perfect opportunity for collaboration.

He said, “Together, we will demonstrate how communities can lead their development with the right tools and support.”

Similarly, the Director-General of the DAWN Commission, Dr Seye Oyeleye, said the initiative embodied the foundation’s commitment to sustainable regional development.

He said, “By empowering communities to identify their unique assets and opportunities, we are building capacity for long-term self-reliance. What makes COLDET different is its structured approach to community engagement and its focus on evidence-based prioritisation.”

Also speaking, the COLDET Project Lead, Segun Balogun, said the partnership between DAWN and AGDF marked a significant shift in community development, moving away from traditional top-down methods towards a more sustainable, bottom-up approach.