SWDC Seeks Strategic Partnership with NOUN to Deploy Regional Innovation Hubs

The Managing Director, South- West Development Commission (SWDC), Dr. Charles Diji Akinola and his team have visited the headquarters of the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN) in Abuja, where they sought a collaborative relationship with the university.

The visitors, who came on Monday, February 23, 2026 were received by the Vice- Chancellor, Prof. Uduma O. Uduma, with principal officers of the University.

Akinola said they were at the university to have strategic collaboration alignment with a vision to establish a regional network of multi-purpose hubs across the South-West region.

The NOUN-SWDC collaboration, according to the MD, will serve as a foundational pillar within this ecosystem, integrating education delivery, digital infrastructure, youth empowerment, and innovation-led economic development.

He said the commission aims to enhance social and human capital development and what they are seeking from NOUN is a partnership aimed establishing regional programmes with significant impact.

The managing director explained that the region’s population is approximately 50 million, with unmet educational needs.