Adequate funding of SEDC 'll heal old wounds - Ohanaeze Ndigbo

The apex Igbo-socio-cultural organization, Ohanaeze Ndigbo has said that sufficient and sustained funding of the South East Development Commission, SEDC, will not only accelerate development of the region, but will also heal old wounds in Igboland.

President General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, Senator John Azuta-Mbata made the assertion in a goodwill message at the South East vision 2050 Regional Stakeholders Forum organized by the SEDC.

Mbata stated that the gathering represented more than a development conversation, but a moment of reflection, renewal, and renewed commitment to the future of the South East within a united Nigeria.

He noted that development commission was not just established for infrastructure development and economics, but an indication of trust, inclusion, and a shared sense of belonging in the national project.

Mbata stated equivocally that the South East region has contributed immensely to Nigeria’s growth through enterprise, innovation, and resilience, and would be dishonest not to acknowledge that over the years, feelings of exclusion, neglect, and unresolved grievances have taken root in parts of the region. 

"These sentiments, if left unaddressed, can weaken national cohesion. It is in this context that the South-East Development Commission assumes profound significance. Beyond its statutory mandate, the Commission represents a powerful instrument of reconciliation and healing. 

"When properly empowered, adequately funded, and sincerely supported, it can become a visible demonstration of the Federal Government’s commitment to equity, justice, and inclusive development.

"On behalf of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide and the millions of Igbo people at home and in the diaspora, I respectfully appeal to the Federal Government to fully utilise the South-East Development Commission by providing it with appropriate and sustained funding. 

"Doing so will not only accelerate development; it will also go a long way in assuaging lingering ill feelings, rebuilding confidence, and healing old wounds in Igboland.

This is the time to heal. It is the time to replace suspicion with trust, despair with hope, and marginalisation with meaningful inclusion," Mbata said.

He noted that development, when sincerely pursued, is one of the strongest tools for peace and national unity and pledged Ohanaeze and the entire Igbo support to the Commission with ideas, oversight, partnerships, and accountability. 

"We must ensure that its interventions are people-centred, transparent, and impactful—reaching our communities, empowering our youth, and restoring faith in public institutions.

"Let Vision 2050 mark a turning point—a future where the South East is fully integrated into Nigeria’s development agenda, not in words alone but in visible action. A future where our youths see opportunity instead of frustration, and where unity is strengthened through fairness and shared prosperity," Mbata advised.