Some Industry giants have said South-East Development Commission (SEDC) will open up more opportunities for the geopolitical zone when it becomes operational.
The industrialists expressed confidence that the management team led by Mr Mark Okoye as Managing Director (MD)/Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and Dr Emeka Nworgu as Chairman has the capacity to drive the vision of the Commission to fruition.
Okoye is the MD/CEO of the Anambra State Investment Promotion and Protection Agency (ANSIPPA), while Nworgu is a former Minister of Labour.
They appreciated President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for constituting the governing board and executive management commission, while expressing hope that they would get the desired speedy confirmation.
Mr Don Ebubeogu, a businessman and former president of Anambra Chamber of Commerce, commended the President for prioritising capacity over political affiliation.
Ebubeogu said, “President Tinubu may be sending a strong signal to Ndigbo, the era of career political contractors is over.
“The political gang that has held this region down should now seek meaningful work and take their shoes off our necks.”
On her part, Mrs. Ijeoma Oduonye, the CEO of Cutix Plc said the SEDC will deliver on its mandate of infrastructure transformation and economic rejuvenation of the region while expressing confidence in the nominated leadership.
“We are confident the SEDC will deliver beyond expectations, promoting dynamic infrastructure development and sustainable economic growth in the South-East region,” she said.
President Tinubu signed the SEDC bill into law in July and nominated a 16-man list to constitute the Commission board on December 7, 2024.
Other nominees are Mr Sylvester Okonkwo, Mr Toby Okechukwu, Mr Stanley Ohajuruka, Mr Anthony Agbo, Dr Clifford Ogbede, Mr Ugochukwu Agballah, Mr Okey Ezenwa, and Chief Hyacinth Ikpor.
Others are Mr Ifeanyi Agwu, Nasiru Usman, Hamma Adama Ali Kumo, Edward David Onoja, Orure Inima, and Chief Joke Adebayo-Chukwuma.
The SEDC was established to spearhead the reconstruction and rehabilitation of infrastructure damaged during the Nigeria-Biafra war (1967–1970).