The Southeast Development Commission (SEDC) presented its 2026 Budget of Strategic Outlook to the SEDC Senate Committee, led by Senator Orji Uzor Kalu, days after its major event in Enugu.
The CEO of the SEDC, Dr Mark Okoye, described the meeting between the two entities as constructive, with a focus on one key priority for the Southeast region.
” As we transition from vision to execution, our focus is clear: infrastructure delivery, industrial acceleration, youth enterprise support, agricultural de-risking, and disciplined capital mobilisation through SEIC, with defined milestones in the months ahead,” said Okoye
” Sustainable regional development requires alignment across the National Assembly, our Governors, and federal institutions. We appreciate the Committee’s emphasis on transparency, accountability, and impact.” He added
The SEDC delegate also paid a courtesy visit to the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu. He was instrumental in initiating the Committee, leveraging his position.
The SEDC is a development committee established by the Bola Ahmed Tinubu administration. The committee was set up to focus on orchestrating significant development in the region. This is a much-needed initiative following the civil war, which ravaged the region in 1966.
SEDC Awaits Funding from the Federal Government
The SEDC is still awaiting significant funding from the Nigerian government, months after its launch. The SEDC organised a stakeholders forum in Enugu to fashion out a 25-year plan for the southeast region.
The forum was attended by the Vice President of Nigeria, Kashim Shettima, alongside other dignitaries. They include the Enugu state governor, Dr Peter Mbah, the Abia state Governor, Dr Alex Otti, and the Ebonyi state governor, Francis Nwifuru.
The SEV2050 forum addressed key sectors such as ICT, Agriculture, Commerce, and Education. The forum had subject experts give talks on their fields and brainstorm ideas to move the eastern region forward.
Critics of the SEDC believe the forum should focus on execution and not just ideation and strategic planning. The SEDC is the youngest developmental commission in the country, with other regions having such commissions for a long time.
