The Southeast Development Commission (SEDC) is set to present a long-term development roadmap for the Southeast region at the Southeast Vision 2050 Regional Stakeholders Forum in Enugu on February 3, 2026.
SEDC’s Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Hon. Mark Okoye, told journalists in Enugu that the initiative aims to tackle decades of infrastructure gaps, ecological challenges, and economic fragmentation across the zone.
“By law, the Commission was created to address historical infrastructure deficits and ecological issues while developing a long-term regional master plan in collaboration with state and non-state actors,” Hon. Okoye said.
Since its inauguration on February 10, 2025, the Commission has spent 11 months building a strategic foundation. The upcoming Vision 2050 forum, themed “Charting a Shared Path to Sustainable Prosperity for the Southeast,” is the result of consultations with Southeast governors and over 250 federal agencies.
Hon. Okoye noted that although SEDC is yet to receive funding for projects, it has developed robust frameworks to drive development independently. He also praised President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for establishing the Commission as a critical step toward bridging historical development gaps.
The forum will bring together state governments, private sector representatives, youth groups, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, development partners, and officials from the Ministry of Regional Development. About 73 Southeast citizens from the diaspora are also expected to participate.
Key discussions will focus on agriculture, food security, energy, industrialization, and youth employment. Among the major proposals is a regional gas pipeline project to enhance energy security, drive industrial growth, and create jobs.
The SEDC also plans to launch the Southeast Investment Company, a venture capital initiative to support tech startups and innovative enterprises in the region. A comprehensive policy document is expected within six weeks of the forum, with SEDC’s initiatives complementing existing state-level development plans.
“We have clear designs and plans for the Southeast. What we need now is sustained support, collaboration, and financial muscle to move from planning to execution,” Hon. Okoye concluded.
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