The Executive Director (Projects) of the South East Development Commission (SEDC) and former Deputy Minority Leader of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Toby Okechukwu, has praised President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his efforts in integrating the Southeast into national development strategies through the establishment and support of the Commission.

Okechukwu made the remarks on Tuesday at the Oji River Economic and Development Summit, held in Oji River Local Government Area of Enugu State.

The summit aimed to highlight Oji River’s economic potential, promote sustainable development, and encourage collaboration between public and private stakeholders.

Delivering his goodwill message, Okechukwu noted that the SEDC was created with a clear mandate to foster sustainable development and reposition the South East as a key investment destination in Africa by 2030.

“The Commission was established under the SEDC Act 2024 and signed into law by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, as a critical vehicle to accelerate the recovery, reinvention, and prosperity of the South East region,” he said. “The war decades ago damaged more than our roads and homes, disrupted our economic rhythm, slowed our institutions, and deepened a sense of marginalisation. SEDC is our collective answer to that history. We must not wait for the centre to fix the East. We have to do it ourselves and do it smartly.”

Okechukwu emphasised the SEDC’s mission to boost the South East’s economy and its goal to make the area a top investment spot in Africa by 2030.
Outlining the Commission’s goals, Okechukwu said, “Our mission is to drive sustainable development, economic growth, and unity in the South East through strategic investments and empowerment initiatives. Our vision is to position the South East as the preferred investment destination in Africa by 2030. We are therefore taking action: to build a $1 billion asset base within 10 years by strategically leveraging both public and private capital. We are developing programs for urban renewal, energy hubs, innovation corridors, and agro-industrial zones.”

He added, “SEDC’s clear roadmap demonstrates that we are not just a bureaucracy; we are focused on long-term goals while executing in real time. It is a business-minded, regionally driven platform for catalytic change. We are launching security interventions, investing in startups, restoring broken infrastructure, and activating our human capital.”

Focusing on the host community, Oji River, Okechukwu described the area as strategically located within the Awka–Enugu–Onitsha corridor, with untapped economic potential.

“Oji River is not on the margin of development. It is on the edge of opportunity,” he said. “The future of this region depends on smart alignment, and Oji River should not be looking only inward. We should be thinking across borders economically, logistically, and strategically.”

He encouraged the community to take advantage of key SEDC initiatives, including the Priority Project Fund, diaspora-driven urban planning, youth enterprise grants, regional security investments, and the proposed 50,000-hectare agricultural development programme.

“SEDC has allocation available to each state for high-impact projects. This money is not allocated based on size; it is allocated based on readiness. Identify the land. Mobilise your cooperatives. Get into the conversation. If you are stable, connected, and well-policed, you become a node of confidence in the regional economy,” he said.

Okechukwu called for organisation and clear planning to support the next phase of growth in the area.

“The people of Oji River are not lacking in talent. We are not lacking in ideas. What we need now is organisation, structure, and speed. There needs to be a deliberate effort to identify Oji River’s comparative advantage. Put together your priority project list. Build your partnerships. Package your proposals. Make them bankable,” he said.

He also commended the National Assembly, particularly Deputy Speaker Rt. Hon. Benjamin Kalu, for their role in passing the SEDC Act.

Highlighting recent federal initiatives in the region, he acknowledged projects such as the construction of Abia Airport and the 5th Expanded National MSME Clinic in Enugu as examples of President Tinubu’s support for the Southeast.

Concluding his address, Okechukwu reiterated his commitment to the region: “I may hold a new portfolio, but my commitment to this place has never changed. Where Oji River is building, I will be there. Where your ideas are ready, I will open doors. Where your ambition matches your execution, I will match it with advocacy. Let’s not talk about the future anymore. Let’s build it.”