By Aaron Ossai
The Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on South-East Development Commission (SEDC), Hon. Chris Nkwonta, has commended the progress made on the Commission’s headquarters in Enugu State, describing the facility as a major step towards advancing the socio-economic transformation of the South-East.
Nkwonta made this known during an oversight visit by members of his committee to the Commission, where they inspected ongoing projects and assessed the development of its infrastructure.
He said the establishment of the SEDC headquarters represents an important institutional milestone that would provide the necessary foundation for translating the philosophy of the Three Rs — Reconstruction, Rehabilitation and Reconciliation — introduced after the Nigerian Civil War into tangible development initiatives across the region.
According to him, the Commission has a significant responsibility to address the lingering effects of the civil war, years of neglect and widespread infrastructural challenges confronting the five South-East states.
He explained that through inclusive economic policies, strategic interventions and sustainable development programmes, the Commission would support the rehabilitation of critical infrastructure, including federal roads, public buildings and urban centres, while stimulating economic growth.
Speaking with journalists during the inspection, the Managing Director of SEDC, Mr. Mark Okoye, disclosed that the Commission’s headquarters is a four-storey building donated by the Enugu State Government.
He said the facility would strengthen the Commission’s administrative and operational capacity by bringing its departments, management team and staff together in one location.
Okoye noted that the centralised arrangement would improve coordination, enhance institutional efficiency, strengthen strategic planning and accelerate the implementation of development projects across the South-East.
He added that having a permanent headquarters without rental obligations would significantly reduce the Commission’s operational and real estate expenses, enabling it to commit more financial resources to priority projects, including road construction and community development initiatives.
On regional collaboration and innovation, the Managing Director said the headquarters would serve as a strategic centre for promoting cooperation among the five South-East states and advancing programmes aimed at entrepreneurship, technological innovation and economic empowerment.
He specifically highlighted the South-East Venture Capital Programme, launched in May 2026, as one of the Commission’s initiatives to support young technology entrepreneurs, establish innovation hubs and tackle the growing migration of talented youths from the region to major economic centres such as Lagos and Abuja.
Okoye also disclosed that the new headquarters would strengthen the Commission’s capacity to attract investments through the proposed South-East Investment Company.
He explained that the initiative would create an institutional platform for connecting private investors, members of the South-East diaspora and other funding partners with strategic development opportunities across the region.
The SEDC Managing Director expressed confidence that effective institutional coordination, strong partnerships and sustained investments would enable the Commission to accelerate regional development, expand economic opportunities and position the South-East as a competitive destination for local and international investors.
The oversight visit was part of the National Assembly’s legislative responsibility to monitor the Commission’s activities, projects and performance, particularly its efforts towards fulfilling its mandate of promoting the socio-economic development of the South-East.
