…Sets the Stage for Transformation
By AWC National Development Desk
The South East Development Commission (SEDC) has concluded its third Extraordinary Board Meeting for 2025, delivering a comprehensive review of the year’s performance and approving an ambitious strategic outlook for 2026 — moves seen as aligning with and advancing President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope agenda and the long-standing developmental aspirations of Nigeria’s South-East region.
2025: From Foundation to Forward Momentum
Chaired by Dr. Emeka Wogu, the SEDC Board’s final statutory session for the year focused on assessing the Commission’s progress in institution building, governance framework development, and stakeholder engagements across federal MDAs, state governments, the private sector, and the diaspora.
SEDC Managing Director Mark Okoye described 2025 as a foundational period, during which the Commission established core administrative systems, internal committees, and strategic partnerships essential for sustainable regional impact.
Okoye expressed appreciation to President Tinubu for his support in operationalising SEDC and to the Minister of Regional Development, Engr. Abubakar Momoh, and Minister of Finance, Wale Edun, for their guidance throughout the year.
South-East governors have also bolstered the Commission’s launch, with Governor Peter Mbah of Enugu State providing office space for SEDC’s headquarters — a symbolic and practical step toward rooting the institution in the region it serves.
2026: Strategic Priorities and New Horizons
The Board reviewed and endorsed the 2025 year-in-review report, then pivoted to approve operational priorities for the first half of 2026. These include:
- Full transition to the Enugu headquarters, signifying the Commission’s shift into full regional operational mode.
- Activation of flagship programmes such as the South-East Venture Capital Programme, the M. I. Okpara Fellowship, and the South-East Investment Company — the latter already granted executive approval by President Tinubu with an initial capital base projected at over ₦150 billion to drive private-sector participation and investment mobilization in the region.
- Launching the Project Preparation Facility and stakeholder consultations for a comprehensive South-East Regional Development Plan.
- Strengthening institutional capacity through targeted recruitment and enhanced oversight by standing committees on environment, projects, partnerships, industrial development, finance, security, and legal affairs.
These early priorities signal a shift from institution-building to project implementation and measurable impact, with an emphasis on expanding economic opportunity and infrastructure delivery.
Bridging Regional Expectations and National Vision
The SEDC initiative, born from years of agitation over regional marginalisation, now stands as a concrete vehicle for translating federal policy into regional development outcomes. Its creation has been championed as a milestone in Nigeria’s federal system — one prepared to tackle decades-long infrastructure deficits, stimulate investment, and strengthen socio-economic systems across Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu and Imo states.
President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope agenda prioritises economic transformation through inclusive development and deeper federal–state collaboration. The SEDC’s strategic roadmap for 2026 reflects these national priorities, positioning the South-East not just for catch-up growth but for sustainable expansion and integration into broader national development frameworks.
Looking Ahead: Delivery, Partnerships, and Regional Confidence
A central theme of the meeting was the Commission’s readiness to move from planning to visible action in 2026, with an emphasis on bankable infrastructure projects, human capital development, and leveraging the South-East’s diaspora and private investment base.
Board Chairman Wogu emphasised that relocating to Enugu and initiating flagship programmes are strategic and symbolic steps toward ensuring that SEDC remains responsive to the needs of communities whose future it is designed to shape.
As the Commission charts its course, hopes remain high that its operations will help address long-standing development imbalances and serve as a springboard for socio-economic transformation in the South-East, contributing meaningfully to national unity, shared prosperity, and the overarching Renewed Hope vision.
For continuing coverage of SEDC developments and impact tracking, stay with the AWC Development Desk.
