The South-East Development Commission (SEDC) Board has paid a courtesy visit to Anambra State Governor, Prof Chukwuma Soludo, laying the roadmap and transformative development framework focused on sustainable regional growth.
The pivotal meeting in a release made available by the SEDC Press Center held at Government House in Awka, which brought together SEDC Chairman Dr. Emeka Wogu, MD/CEO Mark Okoye, and the entire SEDC Board Members.
SEDC Board Chairman, Dr. Emeka Wogu in his opening remarks, commended Governor Soludo’s impressive accomplishments since assumption of office.
The Chairman highlighted the governor’s significant strides in health, education and infrastructure development that have visibly transformed Awka and numerous communities across the state. Dr. Wogu emphasized the imperative for SEDC to collaborate with Anambra State and other South Eastern States in driving development in the region.
Furthermore, SEDC MD/CEO, Mark Okoye II began his address by presenting a Comprehensive Roadmap of the Commission and congratulated Governor Soludo for his decoration as the “Sun Governor of the Year,” acknowledging his exceptional leadership in infrastructure development. Mr. Okoye highlighted several remarkable achievements of Governor Soludos administration to include:
He stated that the governor has spearheaded road rehabilitation initiatives, awarding contracts for over 730 kilometers of roads with 420 kilometers already commissioned, all without borrowing funds for infrastructure development, demonstrating exemplary fiscal responsibility.
Through transformative policies, he noted that Governor Soludo is successfully positioning Anambra as a preferred destination for domestic and international investment.
The MD/CEO announced SEDC’s plans to collaborate with state governors to grow the economy of the region a robust 200-billion economy from its present 40billion.
The MD/Ceo also paid tribute to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, for initiating regional development through the creation of SEDC as a critical component of his Renewed Hope Initiative. He emphasized that the collaboration model inherent in the creation of the SEDC is essential for sustainable development across the South-East region.
Governor Soludo while responding acknowledged that initiatives such as the South-East Development Fund SEDEF and SENEC previously established has the foundational groundwork necessary for SEDC’s formative programs and operational directions.
He articulated a compelling vision for Anambra State’s future. He declared his unwavering commitment to transform Anambra from a “departure land” into an “arrival destination” and affirmed the state as being globally competitive.
The governor called on all stakeholders in Nigeria, particularly Igbo leaders, to adopt an intentional approach to development in their region with clearly defined objectives and measurable outcomes
He urged SEDC to forge strong partnerships with the South East Governors’ Forum and individual South East state governments to create a cohesive development agenda that addresses regional priorities.
Gov Soludo further invited the SEDC delegation to visit his signature “Solution Fun City” project, which he believes will position Anambra State prominently on the global map. He also highlighted the near completion of the state governor’s official residence , the first official government residence built in Anambra state in 35 years—as a symbol of enduring progress and administrative stability.
Moving on, the courtesy visit was concluded with clear strategic directives for SEDC’s operations:
Focused Agenda : The Governor reaffirmed that SEDC must narrow its strategic development plan to a single, result driven agenda, prioritizing high-impact programs over dispersed community projects with uncertain outcomes
Operational Deficiency : The Commission was advised to avoid establishing extensive state wide offices to minimize costs and eliminate bureaucratic bottlenecks that could impede its progress
Time-Bound Implementation : All initiatives should be undertaken only with clearly defined completion timelines to ensure accountability and measurable progress
Innovative Approaches: The Commission was challenged to “do things differently” by adopting innovative strategies and avoiding conventional approaches that have yielded limited results in the past
This landmark courtesy visit represents a significant milestone in South-East regional development. With the combined vision and advice of Governor Soludo and other South East Governors, SEDC’s strategic direction and President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Initiative, the South-East region appears positioned to accelerate its transformation into a competitive economic powerhouse on both national and global stages.
