…Lauds Tinubu for Establishing SEDC as Catalyst for Regional Development
The South East Development Commission (SEDC) has called for the creation of a common market and stronger cooperation among the five South-East states as Vice President Kashim Shettima launched the Vision 2050 blueprint aimed at accelerating the region’s economic development.
The South East Vision 2050 (SEV2050) was officially declared open on Wednesday, February 4, 2026, at a regional stakeholders’ meeting organised by the SEDC. The meeting, themed “Charting a Shared Path to Sustainable Prosperity for South-East Nigeria,” took place at the International Conference Centre (ICC), Enugu.
Speaking at the event, the Managing Director of the SEDC, Mark Okoye, described the occasion as significant for the South-East, not merely because of the presence of dignitaries, but because it marked a conscious effort to coordinate previously fragmented regional conversations and assets.
He expressed appreciation to the governors of the South-East states for their cooperation, as well as to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for establishing the SEDC.
“Your presence and leadership send a powerful signal of unity, purpose, and long-term development to the South-East. For the creation of the South East Development Commission, and to His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, thank you for creating SEDC and also for approving the South-East Investment Company Limited -a forward-moving vehicle designed to invest in diaspora capital, domestic sales, the capital market, and to develop financial institutions across the region.” he said.
On implementation, Okoye noted that planning alone does not transform regions, stressing that execution and access to capital are the real drivers of development. He said discussions must go beyond planning to include financing strategies, project viability, and investment mobilisation.
He outlined a collaborative execution framework, urging South-East states to align their priorities around shared interests, calling on private sector players and financial institutions to engage early as investors, and emphasising discipline, transparency, and cooperation within the commission.
Vice President Shettima, while declaring the forum open, said the South East Vision 2050 represented a clear departure from previous short-term development approaches that failed to deliver expected results.
He reaffirmed that the SEDC was designed to drive structural transformation rather than routine administrative functions, adding that Nigeria is strongest when its regions thrive.
“Let me be clear. This is not another layer of bureaucracy. It is a delivery institution, focused on tangible outcomes that translate into jobs, productivity, and growth,” he said, noting that the South-East bears a unique historical burden that makes deliberate regional planning necessary.
Shettima also announced that President Tinubu had approved the establishment of the South East Investment Company Limited, which will work in synergy with the SEDC to address post-war infrastructure gaps and enhance long-term regional competitiveness.
The Governor of Enugu State, Dr. Peter Mbah, said the South-East could no longer afford to operate as five parallel states. He commended President Tinubu for establishing the SEDC, describing it as evidence that regional development does not happen in isolation.
“Today, I propose the birth of the South East Common Market – a bold, borderless unification of our commerce, our talent, and our industrial grit.
“By fusing our five distinct economies into one powerhouse, we are no longer just negotiating for a seat at the table; we are building the table ourselves.
“This is more than a policy shift; it is the awakening of an economic giant, transforming the South East into a single, seamless theatre of enterprise where our shared heritage fuels our collective prosperity,” he said.
Mbah noted that global economic dynamics were changing, adding that regions that organise themselves, integrate their markets, and build systems at scale would thrive, while those that fail to do so would remain consumers of other people’s value.
He described the South East Vision 2050 as a tool to solve problems that individual states cannot address alone, but stressed the need for immediate action, beginning with a region-wide feasibility and project preparation phase to be jointly funded and governed.
He also lamented that despite shared identity and interconnected markets, the region still suffers fragmentation, saying Vision 2050 provides an opportunity to build a framework for action starting now.
Also speaking, the Governor of Anambra State, Prof. Chukwuma Charles Soludo, urged the SEDC to align its ambitions with reality, guided by existing assessments. He questioned whether the initiative would become “just another plan,” considering the factors that hindered similar efforts in the past.
Soludo advised the commission to focus at least 70 per cent of its efforts on projects that are realistically achievable, leaving 30 per cent for ancillary initiatives. He identified priority areas including regional railways and highways linking major cities and state capitals, pipelines, seaports, and security infrastructure.
The Governor of Abia State, Dr. Alex Otti, assured residents of the South-East that the proposal would receive due consideration. He emphasised cooperation over competition among the states, describing collaboration as the most practical approach to development. He added that operating as a unified market would significantly boost industrialisation in the region.
The event was attended by the Governor of Ebonyi State, Francis Nwifuru, while the Governor of Imo State, Hope Uzodimma, was represented.
Ministers, representatives of international development agencies, captains of industry, and heads of federal and state agencies were also in attendance.