—– Participants Push for adequate implementation of the recommendations raised to yield bankable projects for the development of the region.
The South East Vision 2050 (SEV2050) Stakeholders’ Forum officially came to a close on Thursday, February 6, 2026, with strong commitments toward financing sustainable development and strengthening institutions across the region.
The final session of the forum, themed “Charting a Shared Path to Sustainable Prosperity for the South East,” was opened by the Managing Director of the South East Development Commission (SEDC), Mr. Mark Okoye, who thanked participants for their active engagement throughout the programme. He noted that the day marked the conclusion of a highly productive dialogue aimed at repositioning the South East for long-term growth.
The session featured key paper presentations focused on mobilizing capital and strengthening domestic revenue systems to achieve the Vision 2050 agenda.
In the first presentation, Dr. Ike Chioke, Group Managing Director of Afrinvest West Africa, delivered a paper titled “Mobilizing Public, Private and Blended Capital to Deliver the South East Vision 2050.” He commended the leadership of the SEDC, particularly Mr. Okoye and the Board, for their efforts in driving the commission’s mandate.
Dr. Chioke emphasized that trust remains the foundation for attracting both public and private investments, stressing that development must be built on transparency and credibility for investors to fully participate.
He outlined several strategic recommendations, including the development of region-wide feasibility studies, accelerated investments in power, transportation and logistics, treating security as a critical economic infrastructure, aligning with investors rules of engagement, and leveraging the SEDC platform to unlock trillions of naira in domestic capital.
The second presentation was delivered by Mr. Obinna Ihedioha, Executive Director at the Nigeria Revenue Service, on the topic “Financing Vision 2050: Strengthening Domestic Revenue Mobilization and the Fiscal Social Contract.”
Mr. Ihedioha explained that accountability and good governance are central to building public trust, which in turn drives growth in internally generated revenue and attracts investment. He highlighted power supply as the engine of development, noting that without reliable electricity, industrial and economic expansion in the South East would remain limited.
He also identified insecurity as a major obstacle to regional development and emphasized the importance of partnerships, data-driven planning, and market intelligence to attract donor agencies and diaspora funding. According to him, fiscal discipline and transparent planning processes are essential to sustaining development efforts.
A high-level panel discussion followed the presentations, moderated by Barr. Stella Duru, Partner at Banwo and Ighodalo. Panelists included Daniel Mueller, Ijeoma Okoli, Dr. Armstrong, Innocent Fred Ojulu of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), Nigeria, and Dr. Emeka, who further explored financing strategies and development partnerships for the region.
At the close of the panel session, Mr. Okoye harmonized the discussions and expressed deep appreciation to stakeholders and partners for their contributions. He thanked the Governor of Enugu State and his team, the South East Governors, the Chairman of the SEDC Board, Chief Dr. Emeka Nwogu, and the Director of Projects, Rt. Hon. Toby Okechukwu, for their leadership and support.
In his closing remarks, the Managing Director also extended gratitude to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu (GCFR), the Board of Directors, and state governments for their commitment to the commission’s vision.
He assured participants that the South East Development Commission is ready to translate all recommendations into actionable projects that will drive growth and development across the region.
Mr. Okoye further announced that the commission would soon launch the Michael Okpara Fellowship, a leadership training initiative aimed at grooming young leaders to contribute meaningfully to regional development.
Other dignitaries present at the event included the Ebonyi State Commissioner for Budget and Economic Planning, Hon. Mrs Chinwe Okay, Dr. Akabogu, His Royal Majesty Igwe Dr. Samuel Asadu, and several public and private sector leaders.
The forum received wide media coverage, by Freedom Square TV.