Governors of the five South-East states in Nigeria , Wednesday, spoke with one voice and agreed to pursue an integrated regional development, saying, the zone must move away from fragmented growth to a unified economic strategy to unlock its full potential.
The governors, Dr. Peter Mbah (Enugu), Prof. Chukwuma Soludo (Anambra), Dr. Alex Otti (Abia), Sir Francis Nwifuru (Ebonyi) and Senator Hope Uzodinma (Imo) made the resolution at the opening of the South-East Vision 2050 (SEV2050) Regional Stakeholders’ Forum held at the International Conference Centre (ICC), Enugu.
They commended President Bola Tinubu for establishing the South-East Development Commission (SEDC), describing it as a clear demonstration that sustainable regional development does not occur in isolation.
Vice -President Kashim Shettima addressing the South East stakeholders
Declaring the two-day forum open, Vice President Kashim Shettima described the South-East as a central pillar of Nigeria’s economic future and announced the approval of the South-East Investment Company Limited by President Tinubu.
According to him, the company will mobilise resources from the diaspora, capital markets and development finance institutions, working in synergy with the SEDC to address infrastructure gaps and drive long-term competitiveness.
“This is not another layer of bureaucracy; it is a delivery institution focused on jobs, productivity and growth,” Shettima said, adding that the forum marked a decisive shift from short-term governance to long-term development planning.
The Vice President also praised the inclusive nature of the forum, which brought together federal and state governments, traditional institutions, the private sector, civil society and development partners, while assuring youths that development must translate into tangible improvements in their daily lives.
The major stakeholders with the Vice president Shettima
Speaking on the theme, “Charting a Shared Path to Sustainable Prosperity for South-East Nigeria,” Enugu State Governor, Dr. Peter Mbah, called for creation of a South-East Common Market, urging the region to re-imagine itself as a single economic bloc.
His words, “For too long, we have looked at our five states as individual islands, but the era of the solitary path is over,”
He explained that the South-East must be rebuilt as an economic common market to realise its potential as a major economic powerhouse, stressing that the region could no longer afford to operate as five parallel states.
“Today, I propose the birth of the South-East Common Market , a bold, borderless unification of our commerce, our talent, and our industrial grit,” he said.
Ha added that the vision represents the awakening of an economic giant.
Governor Mbah noted that Vision 2050 is designed to tackle challenges no single state can solve alone and called for immediate action, including region-wide project preparation, integrated logistics corridors, coordinated security architecture and harmonised investment and regulatory frameworks.
According to him, “Economies do not integrate on paper; they integrate through movement,” stressing the need for interstate road, rail and logistics infrastructure planned as regional assets.
He also emphasised that security must be treated as regional infrastructure, noting that criminal networks do not respect state boundaries.
In their separate speeches Governors Soludo, Otti and Nwifuru, called for a Regional development that cuts -across security, technology, energy, agriculture,education , logistics, among others.
They pledged their states’ commitment to implementing the Vision 2050 agenda, describing it as historic and capable of driving industrialisation, reducing unemployment and positioning the South-East as a hub for innovation and enterprise. They also urged the federal government to release funds to the South East Development Commission to be able to achieve the aspirations of the zone.
Earlier in her remarks, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Resident Representative, Ms Elsie Attafuah, described the Vision 2050 initiative as a turning point in the South East regional development.
Attafuah delivering her speech
“For the first time, regional development is taking a natural and coordinated direction,” she said.
She commended the Federal Government for supporting frameworks that enhance investment, competitiveness and private sector participation in the South-East.
Attafuah described the SEDC as a test case for SMEs and the private sector, stressing the need for consistent institutional frameworks that promote youth employment and sustainable growth
In his opening remarks, the Chief Executive Officer of the South East Development Commission (SEDC), Mark Okoye, reaffirmed the Commission’s commitment to inclusive growth, infrastructure development and socio-economic transformation in the South East.
CEO SEDC assures transparency, accountability
He said the SEDC was created to coordinate strategic initiatives that unlock the region’s human and economic potential, stressing the need for strong institutions, deliberate planning and partnerships to address development challenges.
He highlighted the Commission’s people-centred focus on youth empowerment, industrialisation, innovation and social welfare, while assuring stakeholders of transparency, accountability and effective programme implementation to improve the quality of life in the region.
PG Ohanaeze Worldwide
Various groups like Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, the federal Executive Council, Manufacturers Association of Nigeria( MAN) Corporate Organisations presented goodwill messages.
They assured support for the initiative, expressing optimism that Vision 2050 will provide a durable framework for coordinated growth, infrastructure development and sustainable prosperity in the South-East.
