Summit: Division Hinders Akure’s Developmental Visibility — Hon. Omowunmi
By Olusegun HOSEA , Akure
10th July 2026
Hon. Omowunmi Olatunji-Ohwovoriole has identified longstanding divisions among the people of Akure as a major obstacle to the town’s development, saying the lack of unity has continued to limit its visibility and growth despite its enormous human and natural resources.
Speaking at the grand finale of the Akure Speaking Communities Development Summit, Hon. Omowunmi said ” Akure remains far behind in the scheme of things, even though it is blessed with many accomplished sons and daughters both within Nigeria and in the diaspora.
According to her, the Akure Speaking Group was established by a few stakeholders who believe the town has not attained the level of development it deserves.”
She noted that the community has struggled to mobilise adequate support for development because of divisions that have persisted for decades without meaningful efforts to resolve them.
She explained that the summit was convened to identify the root causes of Akure’s developmental challenges, with experts presenting papers, participants engaging in discussions, and practical solutions being proposed.
Hon. Omowunmi expressed confidence that if the recommendations and resolutions reached at the summit are compiled and presented to the appropriate authorities, Akure would be better positioned to attain its rightful place in terms of development.
She stressed that, as the Ondo State capital, Akure deserves greater developmental attention at both the state and national levels, adding that such progress would require genuine political will and collective commitment.
According to her, “if the aspiration is for Akure to produce the next governor of Ondo State, the people must speak with one voice, noting that unity remains the foundation for achieving such a goal.
She clarified that the summit was not organised as a one-time event or in response to any emergency but was designed to lay a lasting foundation for future generations.”
Hon. Omowunmi said the vision of the initiative is to unite Akure North, Akure South and Ifedore as one indivisible entity, irrespective of language or personal interests.
She added that whether a governor emerges from Akure North, Akure South or Ifedore, it should be celebrated as a collective achievement, while development in any of the three areas should be embraced by all.
She urged the people of Akure to set aside personal interests, embrace sincerity and work together towards a common vision for sustainable development.
“The development of Akure should be everyone’s responsibility and not be driven by unsustainable narratives. It should be a vision embraced by every child of the land as a shared agenda. If we remain united, there is nothing we cannot achieve,” she said.
