Vice President Kashim Shettima on Wednesday launched a 25-year development blueprint, Vision 2050, aimed at accelerating economic growth and long-term development in Nigeria’s South-East region.
Shettima unveiled the plan at the South-East Vision 2050 Regional Stakeholders’ Forum held in Enugu, describing the initiative as a deliberate shift from short-term governance cycles to structured, long-term regional planning.
In a statement posted on X and signed by his media aide, Stanley Nkwocha, the Vice President said the blueprint reflected foresight, responsibility and a collective resolve to intentionally shape the region’s future.
“This forum reflects foresight, responsibility, and a shared understanding that the future is not something we wait for, but something we must deliberately design,” Shettima said.
He also announced the establishment of the South East Investment Company Limited, approved by President Bola Tinubu, to mobilise resources from the diaspora, capital markets and development finance institutions to support infrastructure and industrial development in the region.
According to Shettima, the company will work in collaboration with the South-East Development Commission (SEDC) to close infrastructure gaps and enhance regional competitiveness.
“In recognition of the distinctive character of the South-East, its entrepreneurial spirit, its global diaspora, and its long-standing relationship with international capital, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu approved the establishment of the South East Investment Company Limited,” he stated.
The Vice President stressed that the SEDC was designed as a delivery-focused institution rather than an additional layer of bureaucracy, with a mandate to create jobs, boost productivity and drive measurable economic growth.
“Let me be clear. This is not another layer of bureaucracy. It is a delivery institution, focused on tangible outcomes that translate into jobs, productivity, and growth,” he said.
Governors of South-East states, including Peter Mbah of Enugu, Alex Otti of Abia, Charles Soludo of Anambra and Francis Nwifuru of Ebonyi, pledged their support for the Vision 2050 agenda and outlined ongoing development initiatives in their respective states.
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The forum attracted stakeholders from the diaspora, civil society, private sector and development partners. Shettima also acknowledged Umu Igbo Unite, a United States-based network of over 10,000 young professionals, noting that sustainable regional development would require collaboration both within and outside the country.
Representatives of the United Nations Development Programme, federal ministries and corporate organisations were present to share perspectives on long-term regional planning, industrialisation and infrastructure development.
The Vice President concluded that achieving sustainable growth in the South-East would depend on deliberate action, strong institutional coordination and active engagement of all stakeholders.
He later toured an exhibition gallery organised by the National Council for Arts and Culture, showcasing the cultural and economic potentials of the South-East region.