The South East Development Commission (SEDC) will play a critical role in shaping the economic destiny of the South-East region and the wider African continent, the Kenyan Ambassador to Nigeria, Amb. Isaac Parashina, has said.
Parashina made the assertion on Tuesday during the SEDC South-East Vision 2050 (SEV2050) Stakeholder Forum, held at the International Conference Centre, Enugu, with the theme “Charting A Shared Path To Sustainable Prosperity For The South-East.”
He said Nigeria and Kenya shared long-standing bilateral relations across multiple sectors, reaffirming Kenya’s readiness to deepen cooperation with Nigeria to strengthen trade, institutional partnerships and people-to-people connections.
“Our intention is always to work with institutions, MDAs and individuals to advance shared interests and achieve mutual benefits for both countries and the African continent.
“Our coming together will shape not just the destiny of our people, but also that of the African region. As Africans, we must develop our own solutions to our challenges and share our prosperity,” Parashina said.
The ambassador also disclosed that Kenya opened its borders in July last year to Nigerian citizens, allowing visa-free entry and stays of up to six days, as part of efforts to deepen regional integration.
Speaking at the forum, Governor Peter Mbah of Enugu State said Nigeria was endowed with vast human capital, entrepreneurial capacity, cultural cohesion and resilience, but noted that unlocking the full potential of the South-East required deliberate coordination and long-term planning.
Mbah, who was represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Chidiebere Onyia, said the forum provided a unique opportunity to move beyond fragmented development efforts toward a unified, data-driven and future-oriented regional agenda.
“The Enugu State Government firmly believes that sustainable development must be people-centred, private-sector-driven, innovation-led and anchored on strong institutions, principles that align fully with the Vision 2050 agenda.
“We also recognise that no single state can achieve transnational development in isolation. Regional cooperation, shared infrastructure, integrated markets and collective advocacy are indispensable to our success,” he said.
In his welcome address, the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of SEDC, Mr. Mark Okoye, stressed the need for clear thinking, honest diagnosis and coordinated planning to secure the future of the South-East.
He said the forum was designed to move the region from fragmented efforts to coordinated action, noting that development plans in the past often lacked ownership, effective implementation and public trust.
“Consultants are engaged, documents are produced and launched, but ownership remains shallow and implementation weak.
“At SEDC, we have chosen a different path. Over the past year, we have listened, mapped constraints, engaged states and rigorously tested assumptions,” Okoye said.
He explained that the commission aimed to build a credible investment pipeline capable of attracting domestic, diaspora and institutional capital to drive the South-East Vision 2050, translating into infrastructure, industrial growth, agriculture, logistics, job creation and sustainable returns.
Also speaking, the President-General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, Sen. John Azuta-Mbata, commended SEDC for convening the forum, urging stakeholders to work collectively to unlock the region’s full potential.
“We must work together to liberate the zone, address our challenges, create jobs, reduce poverty and improve the quality of life of our people.
“Together, we can build a brighter future for ourselves and generations to come,” Mbata said.
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