The South East Development Commission (SEDC) has officially been inaugurated, marking a historic step for regional growth. With Tinubu’s approval and Kalu’s legislative efforts, expectations are high. Will this commission deliver real transformation?
At long last, it is a dream come through. The realization of the South East Development Commission (SEDC) has reignited the assurances that Ndigbo are never and will never be left out in the scheme of things in our national life. All thanks to our amiable President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, who has given people of the Southeast something unique and historical to cheer.
According to the Hon. Minister of Regional Development, Engr. Abubakar Momoh during the inauguration of the members of the commission on Tuesday, February 11, in Abuja, “the establishment of this Commission is a prove of the Federal government’s dedication to addressing regional disparity, promoting economic growth, and improving the quality of lives of our people”.
“In this regard, there’s need to focus on the key priority areas such: reforming the economy for sustainable development, strengthen national security for peaceful coexistence, boost agriculture for food security, unlock energy and natural resources for sustainable development and focus on education, health, etc.”.
For the past 54 years, it has become a dream come through that the vision of reconstruction, reconciliation, and reintegration of the Southeastern has finally been fully actualized.
At this juncture, let me also pay tribute to our amiable Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Okezie Kalu and his colleagues towards achieving this vision. His legislative sagacity and that of his colleagues paid off. Kalu sponsored the SEDC bill that birthed the Commission and followed it through at the both chambers of the National Assembly until they passed. At the presidency, Kalu also found favour before President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who graciously signed the bill into law in July 2024. What a great feat!
To this end, we need to remind the management and board of the SEDC, that a huge responsibility has been bestowed on their shoulders to put the Southeast on the world map again so as to bring back its glory. How all these can be achieved depend on your mission, vision, and the unalloyed provisions expected to reposition the region to a greater height.
Above all, expectations are high. They should ensure that apart from infrastructure and industrialization, trade and commerce are also given a high consideration. The people of South East are in dire need of quality education and human capital development, therefore, rolling out better educational and friendly programs for our people, in collaboration with the Southeast Governors will be a laudable thing. What about healthcare? This is a major sector that must not be overlooked at all. Ndigbo deserve quality health care delivery and efforts of the commission to remodel it will definitely showcase where it is heading to, especially with regards to medical tourism.
But then, the South East Development Commission (SEDC) must also not fail to tackle the monster that seems to have given the region some negative narratives. It has to reorient our youths with good programs that will make them highly engaged and eschew anti-social vices capable of truncating their future and that of the region. This will automatically help in addressing the issue of insecurity in the region, because security is paramount for the region to thrive.
There’s nothing bad in engaging our youths in various skills acquisition training such as tilling, tailoring, carpentry, farming for abundance of food supply, welding, hair dressing, confectioneries, etc., by the commission. Efforts must be made for the commission to collaborate with other regions at all times in order to improve on the mandate for which it was established.
In addition, the management of the SEDC, must not engage in anything that will jeopardize the smooth running of the commission bearing in mind that expectations of the people are high and all eyes are on them to see how they intend to swing the pendulum.
May God help them to achieve the desired vision of the commission; and by God’s grace, Alaigbo, shall be great again.
Ukoha is a former Minority Whip Abia State House of Assembly.
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