In a landmark move to pivot Nigeria’s South-East from short-term governance to long-term industrial prosperity, Vice President Kashim Shettima has launched the South-East Vision 2050, a 25-year strategic development blueprint designed to turn the region into a global economic powerhouse.
Speaking yesterday at the Regional Stakeholders’ Forum in Enugu, he declared that the South-East is no longer waiting for the future but is now “deliberately designing” it.
To anchor this vision, he announced President Bola Tinubu’s approval for the establishment of the South East Investment Company Limited.
Unlike traditional administrative bodies, the newly formed investment company is envisioned as a “delivery institution.”
It aims to bridge post-war infrastructure gaps by mobilising capital from: the Nigerian Diaspora, targeting networks like the US-based Umu Igbo Unite, International Capital Markets, and Development Finance Institutions (DFIs).
“This is not another layer of bureaucracy,” Shettima emphasised. “It is a vehicle for tangible outcomes—jobs, productivity, and growth. Nigeria is at its strongest when its regions thrive.”
The forum witnessed an unprecedented show of solidarity as all five South-East governors endorsed the blueprint, aligning it with the national ‘Vision 2060’ agenda.
Governor Peter Mbah of Enugu proposed the creation of a South-East Common Market, describing the initiative as the “awakening of an economic giant.”
READ ALSO
Governor Charles Soludo of Anambra hailed the South-East Development Commission (SEDC) as a long-awaited gift from the Tinubu administration that finally unites the region’s leadership under one framework.
Governor Alex Otti of Abia noted that the region’s abundance of solid minerals makes this industrial revolution feasible through transparent execution.
Governor Francis Nwifuru of Ebonyi pledged to leverage the plan to close poverty gaps through the state’s burgeoning agribusiness and education sectors.
The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Resident Representative, Elsie Attafuah, delivered a keynote urging leaders to ensure that new infrastructure serves domestic production first.
She stressed the need for “cutting-edge execution” to sustain the region’s comparative advantages.
Supporting this, Minister of Trade and Investment Jumoke Oduwole announced a nationwide trade facilitation tour, identifying the South-East as the “springboard” for Nigeria’s industrial transformation.
Shettima spoke directly to the region’s younger generation, insisting they are the “engine room” of this 25-year journey.
He stressed that development must move beyond abstract promises to be felt in the daily lives of every citizen through improved security and economic opportunity.
The event concluded with a symbolic tour of an arts and culture exhibition, signalling that the “Vision 2050” is not just about industry, but about the holistic preservation and promotion of the Igbo heritage on the global stage.
