Titus Eleweke, South East Editor
AWKA – Anambra State Governor, Prof. Charles Soludo has challenged the South East Development Commission (SEDC) to design a clear, measurable, and high-impact regional blueprint that would serve as Nigeria’s equivalent of a Marshall Plan for the South East.
Governor Soludo made the call while delivering a keynote address at the South East Vision 2050 Stakeholder Forum, where he offered a sober yet hopeful appraisal of the region’s current trajectory.
Describing the gradual emergence from prolonged insecurity evidenced, he noted, by the most peaceful Christmas season in recent memory,the Governor stressed that, for the first time in years, the political leadership of the South East is operating with a shared sense of purpose and alignment.
A renowned economist and former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Soludo tasked the Commission with prioritising three core deliverables: regional security and sustainable funding mechanisms; super-interstate infrastructure, including highways and airstrips linking major cities, gas pipelines, and seaports; and a robust institutional framework to ensure effective regional coordination.
According to the Governor, the South East Vision 2050 must be understood not merely as a development plan, but as a deliberate “post-war reconstruction” strategy—one that demands unprecedented unity and collective action to restore and expand the region’s economic relevance within the national framework.
He noted that the forum marked a decisive break from the fragmented and competitive approaches that have historically undermined regional development efforts, declaring that the era of isolated, state-by-state planning was effectively over.
“Today is history in the making. What we have yearned for over decades is finally taking shape. I can say with confidence that the governors of the South East are now more united than ever before.”he said.
Addressing widespread scepticism about long-term development blueprints, Governor Soludo urged technocrats and planners to confront the persistent gap between policy design and political execution.
While acknowledging that every state in the region has its own strategic roadmap—including Anambra’s Vision 2070, which he personally chaired—he argued that implementation, not planning, has consistently been the region’s weakest link.
“There have been many plans. The question is: will this be another plan that gathers dust? Technocrats must understand that politics and policy are inseparable. If you cannot navigate the political terrain, even the best ideas will remain on the shelf.”soludo added.
The Governor was blunt in his assessment of the South East’s current economic standing. Despite the well-known entrepreneurial energy of its people, he observed that the region’s domestic economy remains structurally weak because much of its capital and investment base is located outside the zone.
“Economically speaking, the South East is insignificant. Our wealth largely resides outside the South East,” he stated.
He therefore urged the Commission to adopt a disciplined and pragmatic approach, focusing at least 70 per cent of its efforts on projects that are realistically deliverable. Reiterating his “post-war reconstruction” framing, Soludo said the overarching goal must be the creation of a viable, sustainable homeland capable of supporting over 35 million Ndigbo.
On financing, the Governor stressed that while the South East states must provide political leadership and strategic direction, the bulk of funding would need to come from the Federal Government and the private sector. He openly appealed to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to provide the level of federal support required to drive the transformation agenda.
“The states will lead, but the funding must largely come from the centre and the business community. We are pleading with the President to fully support this historic reconstruction effort.”he stated.
Governor Soludo however warned that time was not on the region’s side, urging the SEDC to operate as a cohesive and results-driven institution with clearly defined timelines.
“As governors, we are beneficiaries of this collective effort. We must act together. This is an agenda with a deadline, and speed is of the essence.” he said .
Earlier, while declaring the summit open, Vice President Senator Kashim Shettima described the South East as a region synonymous with ingenuity and enterprise, noting that it remains central to Nigeria’s economic growth.
He commended the SEDC and said the forum should serve as a foundation for sustained regional and national collaboration.
Governors of Enugu, Imo, Abia, and Ebonyi States also addressed the forum, expressing optimism that the initiative would unlock new opportunities for inter-state integration and collective economic growth across the South East.
In their remarks, the Chairman of the SEDC, Chief Emeka Nwogu, and its Managing Director, Mr. Mark Okoye, described the forum as a defining and visionary moment for the region. They expressed appreciation to President Tinubu for establishing the Commission, which they said is positioned to translate ideas into bankable, development-driven projects.
The Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Bianca Ojukwu, was also in attendance.
The forum was held under the theme: “Charting a Shared Path to Sustainable Prosperity for the South East.”
