Proper funding of SEDC will drive development in South-East – Ohanaeze Ndigbo
By Alex Enebeli
Enugu, Feb. 4, 2026
The Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide has appealed to the Federal Government to prioritise the funding of the South East Development Commission (SEDC) to drive the needed development in the region.
The President-General of the apex Igbo socio-cultural organisation, John Mbata, made the appeal on Wednesday during the South East Vision 2050 (SEV2050) Stakeholders Forum, organised by the Commission, on Wednesday, in Enugu.
Mbata said that doing so would not only accelerate development but also go a long way in assuaging lingering ill-feelings, rebuilding confidence, and healing old wounds in Igboland.
“On behalf of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide and the millions of Igbo people at home and in the diaspora, I respectfully appeal to the Federal Government to fully utilise the Commission by providing it with appropriate and sustained funding.
“This is the time to heal. It is the time to replace suspicion with trust, despair with hope, and marginalisation with meaningful inclusion.
“Development, when sincerely pursued, is one of the strongest tools for peace and national unity,” Mbata said.
He emphasised that South East had contributed immensely to the country’s growth through enterprise, innovation, and resilience.
“Yet, it would be dishonest not to acknowledge that over the years, feelings of exclusion, neglect, and unresolved grievances, have taken root in parts of our region.
“These sentiments, if left unaddressed, can weaken national cohesion.
“It is in this context that the South-East Development Commission assumes profound significance,” he said.
Mbata pointed out that beyond statutory mandate, the Commission represents a powerful instrument of reconciliation and healing.
According to him, when properly empowered, adequately funded, and sincerely supported, it can become a visible demonstration of the Federal Government’s commitment to equity, justice, and inclusive development.
“As stakeholders, we equally bear responsibility.
“We must support the Commission with ideas, oversight, partnerships, and accountability.
“We must ensure that its interventions are people-centred, transparent, and impactful – reaching our communities, empowering our youth, and restoring faith in public institutions.
“Let Vision 2050 mark a turning point – a future where the South East is fully integrated into Nigeria’s development agenda, not in words alone but in visible action.
“A future where our youths see opportunity, instead of frustration, and where unity is strengthened through fairness and shared prosperity,” Mbata said.
