By Mercy Aikoye
The completion of the South-East Development Commission (SEDC) headquarters in Enugu is expected to strengthen regional development efforts, improve institutional efficiency and attract investment to the South-East, Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on SEDC, Hon. Chris Nkwonta, has said.
Nkwonta gave the assurance during an oversight visit by members of his committee to the Commission’s headquarters, where they inspected ongoing projects and assessed the progress of infrastructure development.
He described the facility as a critical institutional asset that would enable the Commission to translate its mandate into tangible development outcomes across the five South-East states.
According to him, the Commission provides an opportunity to advance the philosophy of the Three Rs — Reconstruction, Rehabilitation and Reconciliation — formulated after the Nigerian Civil War, by addressing the region’s infrastructure gaps and promoting inclusive economic growth.
He said the SEDC would play a strategic role in rebuilding damaged infrastructure, including federal roads, public buildings and urban centres, while implementing programmes to stimulate economic activities and improve living conditions.
Speaking during the visit, the Managing Director of the Commission, Mr. Mark Okoye, said the four-storey headquarters, donated by the Enugu State Government, would enhance the Commission’s operational capacity and improve coordination among its departments.
Okoye explained that bringing the Commission’s management and staff under one roof would eliminate administrative fragmentation, strengthen strategic planning and facilitate the implementation of regional development programmes.
He added that operating from a rent-free facility would reduce overhead costs, enabling the Commission to allocate more resources to critical infrastructure projects, road construction and community-based interventions.
The Managing Director also identified regional collaboration, innovation and investment mobilisation as key priorities, noting that the headquarters would serve as a hub for cooperation among the five states.
He cited the South-East Venture Capital Programme, launched in May 2026, as an initiative aimed at supporting young technology innovators, establishing innovation hubs and addressing youth migration to major economic centres such as Lagos and Abuja.
Okoye further disclosed that the proposed South-East Investment Company would help attract private-sector investors, members of the diaspora and other funding sources to development projects across the region.
He expressed confidence that effective coordination, strategic partnerships and sustained investment would create economic opportunities and position the South-East as a competitive investment destination.
The oversight visit was part of the National Assembly’s responsibility to monitor the Commission’s activities and assess its progress in delivering on its mandate of promoting the socio-economic development of the South-East.
