Traditional rulers, political leaders and other stakeholders from Akure-speaking communities in Ondo State on Wednesday converged on Akure to chart a common development agenda aimed at strengthening unity and accelerating socio-economic growth across the region.
The three-day Akure-Speaking Communities Development Summit 2026, held at The Dome in Akure, is themed “Building a Smart, Integrated, and Prosperous Development Corridor.” The summit is designed to foster collaboration among communities in Akure South, Akure North and Ifedore Local Government Areas.
Speaking at the event, the Deji of Akure Kingdom, Oba Aladetoyinbo Aladelusi, said the summit had reinforced his confidence in the future of Akure-speaking communities, stressing that unity remained the foundation for sustainable development.
The monarch dismissed claims that the communities were divided, saying efforts were ongoing to rebuild old alliances and establish a central body that would coordinate development initiatives without replacing existing community associations.
”There is now a consensus among us that our unity is non-negotiable. We are at the threshold of achieving our dream of unity as people bound by the same language, culture and traditions. No challenge is insurmountable, and we will continue to work together as brothers,” the royal father said.
Also speaking, the Chairman of the Central Planning Committee, Air Commodore Adewale Ogunmodede (Rtd.), urged participants to actively contribute ideas and build partnerships, noting that no community or institution could achieve meaningful development in isolation.
He added that the summit was focused on creating practical strategies to address development challenges, particularly youth empowerment and economic growth.
Also speaking, the Minister of Youth Development, Ayodele Olawande, described the gathering as timely, saying it would help reshape public perception of Akure-speaking communities and strengthen their collective voice in pursuing development.
According to the minister, achieving lasting progress would require sacrifice and commitment from all stakeholders. “Somebody must make a sacrifice for something to come up. The most important thing is to have a strong voice so that we can grow,” he said.
The summit attracted participants from more than 20 Akure-speaking communities, including Obaile, Ala, Iju, Ita-Ogbolu, Ogbese, Ilu-Abo, Igoba, Ilado, Imafon, Osi and Isinigbo, among others, with discussions expected to produce a unified roadmap for regional development.
