By Christian ABURIME
Anambra State Governor, Professor Chukwuma Charles Soludo, CFR, has called on the South East Development Commission, SEDC to produce a simple, measurable, impactful plan for the South East, which could be known and referred to as Nigeria’s Marshall Plan for the South East
Speaking at the South East Vision 2050 Stakeholder Forum, Governor Soludo—a renowned economist and former Central Bank Governor—delivered a sobering yet hopeful assessment of the region’s trajectory. He emphasized that gradually coming out of an insecurity situation with the best Christmas ever, for the first time in recent memory, the political will of the region’s leadership is aligned.
He tasked the commission with focusing on three deliverables including regional security and funding, super interstate infrastructure; with highways and runways connecting major cities, gas pipelines, seaports, as well as institutional framework for coordination.
According to the Governor the South East Vision 2050 strategy should be rightly regarded as a “post-war reconstruction” effort, calling for unprecedented regional unity to improve the zone’s economic significance.
The Governor noted that the gathering represented a departure from the fragmented efforts of the past. He signaled that the era of “going it alone” is over.
“Today is history in the making. What we have yearned for decades is finally taking shape. I can say with confidence that the governors in the region are now more united than ever.”
Addressing the skepticism surrounding long-term developmental blueprints, Governor Soludo challenged technocrats to bridge the gap between academic theory and political reality. While every state has its internal roadmap—including Anambra’s Vision 2070 which he chaired—Soludo argued that execution has often been the Achilles’ heel.
“There have been many plans; is this going to be another plan? Technocrats must understand that politics and policy work hand in hand. If you don’t navigate the political landscape, the best policies will sit on a shelf.”
Governor Soludo did not mince words regarding the current economic standing of the South East. Despite the entrepreneurial spirit of its people, he noted that the region’s domestic economy remains punchless because its primary capital resides elsewhere.
“Economically speaking, the South East is insignificant. Our wealth is largely outside the South East,” Soludo remarked.
He urged the commission to “Keep it simple” and focus 70 percent of its energy on what can actually be delivered, describing the current initiative as being in a “post-war reconstruction mode,” aimed at building a sustainable homeland for over 35 million Ndigbo.
On funding, the Governor made it clear that while the states will drive the vision, the financial heavy lifting must come from the center and the business community.
“The plan will largely be funded by the Federal Government and the private sector, pleading with President Bola Tinubu to give the full funding required for this transformation.”
In closing, Governor Soludo reminded stakeholders that time is a luxury the region does not have. He called for the Commission to act as a cohesive unit to ensure measurable and achievable goals.
“As governors, we are beneficiaries of this collective effort. We need to come together. This is an agenda with a deadline, and speed is of the essence.”
Declaring the summit open earlier, the Vice President, Senator Kashim Shettima said the South East region is known for ingenuity and enterprise and it remains central to Nigeria’s economic growth. He commended the SEDC, adding that the forum should be the foundation for collaboration.
Governors of Enugu, Imo, Abia and Ebonyi, all spoke at the event. They expressed optimism that as a result of this initiative, opportunities would be created for the States to integrate and build the South East economy collectively
The Chairman of SEDC, Chief Emeka Nwogu and it’s Managing Director, Mark Okoye, described the event as a visionary moment for the region, appreciated the President for establishing the Commission which, he says, is poised to transform ideas into bankable projects.
The Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Bianca Ojukwu was also at the occasion.
The event had the theme: “Charting a Shared Path to Sustainable Prosperity for The South East.”
