It was a night that threw up commitments of support and cooperation from key stakeholders in the Southeast region as the South-East Development Commission (SEDC) kickstarts its operations towards the region’s economic revitalization.
The commitments were made during a grand reception organized for the Commission by renowned billionaire businessman and philanthropist Prince Arthur Eze in Enugu on Sunday.
The event brought political leaders, business moguls, and community stakeholders together to rally behind the newly established Commission.
In his address, Prince Arthur Eze expressed profound gratitude to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his visionary leadership in recognizing the immense potential of the Southeast region.
He emphasized that establishing the SEDC was long overdue, noting that such a commission should have been created immediately after the Civil War to drive the Reconstruction, Reconciliation, and Rehabilitation (3Rs) policy initiated by General Yakubu Gowon.
The business mogul described the Southeast as a land of innovation, resilience, and enterprise, urging the SEDC to prioritize revamping the industrial infrastructure that once supported the old Eastern Region.
Eze pledged his support to the Commission in critical areas such as power and energy, manufacturing, agriculture, and industrial development. He called on other stakeholders to join hands with the SEDC to achieve its strategic roadmap.
The Governor of Enugu State, Dr Peter Mbah, expressed confidence in the Board’s management’s ability to achieve the expected outcome for the Southeast people.
He said the Southeast Governors will explore areas of collaboration with the Commission to ensure that impacts are maximized and legacies sustained.
In his remarks, Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu, represented by Chief George Ozodinaobi, Deputy Minority Whip of the House of Representatives, described the SEDC as the engine room for the renewal and modernization of the Southeast.
He emphasized that the SEDC Act was not merely a legislative achievement but a mission to address long-standing infrastructure deficits, economic stagnation, and the lingering wounds of history.
Kalu warned against the politicization of the Commission, urging stakeholders to focus on partnerships between governments, the private sector, the diaspora community, and relevant institutions.
“The SEDC Act is more than ink on paper; it is a covenant of progress, a bridge between our storied past and the prosperous future we dare to build. We have never been a people who wait for doors to open; we carve our own pathways through the mountains of limitation. Today, with this Commission, we do not just carve a path; we lay a foundation for generations to come,” Kalu declared.
On the part of the Commission, the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Mr Mark Okoye, assured stakeholders that the Commission would revolutionize the Southeast’s economy by addressing critical challenges and unlocking the region’s vast potential.
He spoke of the Commission’s strategic plan, highlighting programs in industrial infrastructure development, agriculture, the creative economy, education, healthcare, and more.
