The Chairman of the Senate Committee on the South-East Development Commission (SEDC), Senator Orji Uzor Kalu, has urged the commission to extend its development projects and interventions to communities across the region, stressing the need for tangible results at the grassroots.
Kalu gave the charge on Monday during an oversight visit by the Senate Committee to the commission in Enugu, where lawmakers assessed its operational readiness, ongoing preparations and progress on infrastructure development.
He acknowledged the progress recorded by the commission, particularly the improvements at its headquarters, but emphasised that its impact must be felt beyond its administrative base in Enugu.
The senator urged the management to sustain the progress ahead of another oversight visit scheduled for December, noting that residents of the five South-East states should begin to see practical benefits from the commission’s activities.
Although he acknowledged that the SEDC was relatively new, Kalu said its management must remain focused on its mandate and demonstrate commitment to addressing the region’s development challenges.
During the visit, the Managing Director of the commission, Mr Mark Okoye, briefed the lawmakers on ongoing preparatory activities and strategic initiatives designed to accelerate economic growth, improve infrastructure and promote regional development.
Okoye disclosed that the commission was advancing plans for strategic projects, including gas pipeline and railway initiatives, while strengthening partnerships with federal ministries, departments and agencies, state governments, development partners and private sector stakeholders.
He also highlighted the South-East Vision 2050 stakeholder consultations, describing them as a major step towards developing a long-term blueprint for the region.
According to him, the consultations brought together government officials, business leaders, academics, development partners and civil society groups to contribute to a coordinated regional development agenda.
The managing director further disclosed that 25 start-ups drawn from the five South-East states had received equity investments under the South-East Venture Capital Programme, an initiative aimed at promoting entrepreneurship, innovation and business growth.
As part of the oversight exercise, the committee visited the Enugu State Governor, Dr Peter Mbah, as well as the commission’s temporary headquarters and its newly established permanent headquarters.
At the temporary headquarters, the lawmakers inspected the available office spaces and operational facilities to determine their adequacy for the commission’s administrative activities.
They also assessed the new headquarters, examining its office facilities, furnishing, information and communications technology infrastructure, and general preparedness for full operations.
The inspection was aimed at providing the committee with first-hand information on the commission’s operational capacity, infrastructure requirements and progress in establishing an effective administrative base.
The South-East Development Commission was established to drive reconstruction, economic development and regional transformation across Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu and Imo states. Authority.
