Lady Dozzy Champions Igbo Manufacturing Potential at SEV2050 Blueprint Launch
In a significant move for regional economic development, Lady (Dr.) Ada Chukwudozie, the chairman of the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) for the Southeast zone, joined Vice President Kashim Shettima and the governors of the five southeastern states to officially launch the South East Vision 2050 (SEV2050) blueprint. The high-profile event, held in Enugu on Thursday, February 5, 2026, brought together key stakeholders including ministers, National Assembly members of Igbo extraction, and industry leaders to unveil a comprehensive 25-year plan aimed at driving inclusive growth and shared prosperity in Southeast Nigeria.
SEV2050: A Framework for Regional Transformation
The SEV2050 initiative, spearheaded by the South East Development Commission (SEDC), the Ministry of Regional Development, and the Presidency, represents a long-term regional development framework designed to unlock resilience and economic advancement. Over a four-day forum, stakeholders engaged in diagnosing structural constraints that have historically hindered the region's progress. The blueprint seeks to align state, federal, private, and development priorities, translating vision into coordinated action across various sectors while building institutional and investment momentum for sustainable growth.
Challenges Faced by Southeast Manufacturers
Speaking at the forum as a member of the Steering Committee, Lady Chukwudozie acknowledged the Southeast's reputation as one of Africa's most entrepreneurial regions and a leading commercial and industrial hub in Nigeria. However, she highlighted significant obstacles facing manufacturers, emphasizing that they operate under some of the most challenging conditions in the country. "Our industrial potential remains constrained by infrastructure gaps, high energy costs, weak logistics, limited access to long-term finance, and fragmented regional coordination," she stated, calling for honest assessment and strategic interventions to overcome these barriers.
Advantages and Opportunities for Manufacturing
Despite these challenges, Lady Chukwudozie expressed strong optimism about the region's inherent strengths. She pointed to the Southeast's highest concentration of indigenous manufacturers, dense networks of small and medium enterprises (SMEs), and a robust diaspora capital base ready for investment if proper structures are established. As chairman of Keystone Bank Limited, she stressed that manufacturing is a long-term, capital-intensive process driven by productivity, not mere trading. "The Southeast must industrialise if Nigeria is to industrialise," she asserted, positioning the region as central to the nation's economic future.
Strategic Vision for Industrial Growth
Lady Chukwudozie outlined how SEV2050 presents a defining opportunity to build a production economy anchored on industrial parks, agro-processing corridors, a regional energy backbone, SME clusters, and a skilled workforce. She proposed leveraging state-specific strengths, such as Abia's manufacturing depth, Anambra's enterprise density, Enugu's logistics and services hub potential, Ebonyi's agro-processing capabilities, and Imo's emerging energy assets, to create state-anchored industrial clusters that drive regional synergy and competitiveness.
Government Commitments and Regional Alignment
Vice President Shettima, in his address, assured that the 25-year blueprint would boost the economic fortunes of the Southeast, Nigeria, and Africa while addressing post-war infrastructure gaps. He announced President Bola Ahmed Tinubu's approval for the establishment of the South East Investment Company Limited, aimed at mobilising funds from the diaspora, capital markets, and development finance institutions to fuel regional development. Enugu State Governor Peter Mbah added that Vision 2050 would help align the region with the national development agenda, Vision 2060, praising the unity among Southeast leaders and proposing a regional common market as part of this economic awakening.
The launch of SEV2050 marks a pivotal moment in Southeast Nigeria's journey toward economic transformation, with Lady Dozzy's advocacy underscoring the critical role of Igbo manufacturers in achieving sustainable industrial growth and regional prosperity.
