Chief Nnia Nwodo, a former Minister of Information has tasked the academics in South East to develop a blueprint that will revive the economy of the region.
Nwodo, former President-General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide gave the charge in Nsukka on Thursday in remark during 2026 South East Nigeria regional development summit.
The theme of the summit is “South East Nigeria Regional Development Strategy”.
Organized by Africa Centre of Excellence for Sustainable Power and Energy Development (ACE-SPED) University of Nigeria Nsukka (UNN) in collaboration with Association for Tourism Development in Nigeria (ATDiN)
He said the region flourished in the first republic, was one of the fastest-growing economies in the world, and queried what happened to the region once-thriving economy.
“We all know that South East was one of the fastest growing economies in the world during the country’s first republic, what has happened to the region once thriving economy.
“This is time for the professors and academics in the region to unite and show their academic prowess.
“They should find out where did the people of the Southeast region missed their past for so long,”he asked.
Nwodo whó was the Chairman of the occasion urged professors and academics in region to commercialise their university research into viable businesses.
“This will help in partnering with the South East Development Commission in implementing regional development blueprints, as well as reintegrating business and products from the area into global supply chains,” he said
The former minister said the Southeastern region was known for rapid socio-economic transformation, which according to him moved the region away from over-reliance on basic social services but massive agricultural commercialisation, large-scale industrialization, and revenue diversifications.
“It is undeniable that the Southeast region of Nigeria currently faces severe socioeconomic constraints that have heavily impacted its former status as an industrial and commercial powerhouse.
“This is the perfect time for the professors and academics in the region to unite and show their academic prowess,”he said
Nwodo, while commending the organisers of the summit urged them to write a saleable programmes to the university authorities and governments in the region about all the natural endowment that are in the region for development and commercialisation
Speaking, Prof Simon Ortuanya, the Vice-chancellor of UNN described the summit as very important as it will find ways to integrate regionial development in South East Nigeria.
“There is need for people of South East to work together to address issues of development, insecurity, youth empwerement, energy and infrastructures.
“I wish participants a fruitful deliberation and hope that the summit will come out with solutions to address challenges faciing the region,”, he said.
In a remark, Prof Emenike Ejiogu, the Director ACE-SPED noted that the primary objective of the summit was to provide a platform for key stakeholders to address regional issues and formulate a unified strategy to transform South East Nigeria into a competitive economy with an attractive environment for tourism, education, and investment.
“This initiative will be guided by the United Nations sustainable development goals on poverty reduction, health and well-being, quality education, inclusive economy and decent work, as well as peace and security.
“South east region has immense natural and material resources, a stronger entrepreneurial base, and a thriving informal sector.
The establishment of the Southeast Development Commission last year provides an enabling policy framework for a coordinated region-wide approach to development, in contrast to the current fragmented effort.
“Nevertheless, this will be more effective if the people of the region agree to work together to protect their land, invest their wealth at home, rebuild their cities, to industrialise the region,” he said
Ejiogu expressed appreciations to participants who participated in the summit both physically or virtually
In a Keynote speech, Prof.Ifedi Okwenna, CEO, South East Business & Investment Summit said the people of South East region do not lack ideas, enterprise and talents as God gave people of the region in abundance but what we lacked is coordination, organisation and partnership.
Okwenna listed the six pillars for the revival of South East regional development as; regional economic cooperation, investment architecture, industrial cluster development, infrastructure development, execution framework and human capital.
According to him, one of the problems in South East is that everybody is a trader and chairman of his/her business, which he described as one-man power (Ikeotuonye).
He commended the organisers of the summit and urged them not to relent in their dream to revive South East regional economy.
Earlier Prof Pat Okpoko, President, Association for Tourism Development in Nigeria said the summit brought together academic stakeholders from various disciplines to brainstorm and develop pragmatic solutions to solve South East problems.
“So that the region will regain its economic position during the first Republic, the era of Micheal Opara, the Premier of Eastern Nigeria,”he said.
Our correspondent reports that, other resource persons who delivered lectures include; Mr Valentine Ozigbo, former CEO Transcorp Plc, Prof Paul Eke, University of Leads, among others.