The South-East Development Commission (SEDC) has set an ambitious 10-year roadmap aimed at profoundly transforming the region through strategic investments, robust public-private partnerships, and innovative financing mechanisms. This newly established commission, with crucial support from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), recently convened a high-level roundtable in Abuja. This event brought together a diverse group of stakeholders, including government leaders, development partners, private sector representatives, and civil society, to collaboratively forge aligned strategies for the region's revitalization.

The SEDC's core objective is to reposition the five South-East states—Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu, and Imo—as vibrant hubs of enterprise, innovation, and investment. Its establishment followed the assent of regional development bills by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in 2024, building upon the framework of earlier commissions such as those for the North-East, Niger Delta, North-West, South-West, South-South, and North-Central regions.

Mark Okoye, the Managing Director of SEDC, unveiled the commission's key priorities. These include the launch of the South-East Regional Development Plan by December and the establishment of innovative financing vehicles, notably a $1 billion investment company and a venture capital fund. Okoye articulated the commission's overarching goal: to foster a "one-region, one-market economy" that significantly enhances the ease of doing business across all five states. He stressed the imperative of securing buy-in from various Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs), the organized private sector, and the general public to cultivate shared successes. The commission is actively undertaking feasibility studies and designing projects in critical sectors such as power, roads, and industrial infrastructure, specifically structured to attract both government and private investors, including those from the diaspora and institutional funds.

During the commemorative event marking 100 days since the commission's establishment, themed "Rebuilding Legacy: Co-creating a New Era of Growth in the South East," Okoye further elaborated on strategic objectives. He detailed plans to grow the region's economy from its current $40 billion to an impressive $200 billion within a decade. This monumental growth will be achieved through close collaboration with development partners, state governments, the organized private sector, civil society organizations, and academic institutions, with interventions focused on four critical areas. Additionally, the SEDC aims to drive and develop high-impact, region-wide infrastructure projects.

Elsie G. Attafuah, the UNDP Resident Representative, underscored the South-East's inherent strengths, emphasizing its robust entrepreneurial culture, dynamic populace, and significant diaspora support. She asserted that these attributes position the region to spearhead Nigeria's next wave of economic transformation. Attafuah highlighted the region's "proven model of value creation through community structures that emphasize innovation, mentorship, and reinvestment." She also framed the SEDC's establishment as a profound affirmation of the Bola Tinubu administration's commitment to restructuring Nigeria’s development architecture to better reflect the diverse regions' challenges and aspirations. Attafuah views the South-East as uniquely positioned as a strategic hub for enterprise development and investment, citing its historic and globally recognized indigenous apprenticeship system as one of the largest informal venture incubation systems. Furthermore, the region's high literacy levels and extensive network of universities, polytechnics, and research institutions serve as a steady incubator of talent.

Engineer Abubakar Momo, the Minister of Regional Development, articulated that the SEDC initiative aligns perfectly with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, particularly its priorities on inclusive growth, infrastructure development, and human capital enhancement. He emphasized how regional commissions like the SEDC are designed to complement national priorities, including economic reform, infrastructure improvement, youth empowerment, and enhanced governance. Momo characterized the roundtable not merely as a discussion but as a powerful "call for action" to deepen shared understanding and foster stronger collaboration among regional development commissions and partners. He acknowledged the region's rich talent, resilience, and enterprise, while also identifying deep-rooted challenges such as industrialization, infrastructure deficits, youth unemployment, and the need for social cohesion. The minister stressed the imperative to ensure that women, youth, and vulnerable groups are fully included in the development process.

Hon. Ben Kalu, the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, speaking through Hon. Chris Nkwonta, Chairman of the House Committee on SEDC, affirmed their role not just as stakeholders but as partners in redefining the South-East's trajectory. He acknowledged the region's history of resilience, innovation, and unwavering commitment to progress despite long-standing challenges. Kalu noted that the South-East is one of Nigeria’s most industrious zones, home to over 29 million people, with projections indicating significant future growth, and notably, over 60 percent of this population is under the age of 30, presenting a vibrant demographic to be wisely harnessed. He candidly pointed out existing hurdles, including infrastructure gaps, an enabling environment, and the underutilization of free economic assets. Speakers and partners, including the Rural Electrification Agency (REA), collectively recognized that the road ahead requires sustained political will, transparent systems, and inclusive planning to achieve the SEDC's ambitious vision.