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The Forum of South-East Academic Doctors (FOSAD) has urged the governors of the geopolitical zone to initiate a coordinated regional action aimed at accelerating sustainable development across the South-East through strategic investments in education, agriculture, healthcare and technological innovation.
FOSAD made the call in the communiqué issued at the end of its 2026 International Conference, held on 2nd and 3rd July, 2026, which was signed by the Secretary-General.
The conference, which brought together PhD holders, researchers, academics, policymakers and development experts from the five South-East states, deliberated on the theme: “Reinvigorating South-East Nigeria Development through Sustainable Education, Agriculture, Health, and Technological Advancement.”
Participants examined critical development challenges confronting the region and adopted a 10-point communiqué outlining practical policy recommendations designed to promote inclusive economic growth, strengthen educational institutions, modernize agriculture, improve healthcare delivery, and accelerate technological advancement.
Delivering the keynote address, the Chief Executive Officer of Educare, Mr. Alex Onyia, described human capital as Nigeria’s most valuable resource, arguing that sustainable national development depends primarily on investing in education rather than relying on natural resources.
“The greatest asset Nigeria has is not oil; the greatest asset Nigeria has is its people,” Onyia said.
He observed that countries that deliberately invested in education and human capital had achieved remarkable developmental progress, citing Singapore as an example of a nation that transformed itself through sustained educational reforms and strategic investment in knowledge.
“Singapore of today is better than the Singapore of yesterday, whereas Nigeria of yesterday is better than Nigeria of today,” he remarked.
Onyia stressed that the South-East possesses a long-standing educational tradition capable of positioning the region as a continental leader in knowledge production and innovation if properly harnessed.
“The mind is an endless source of wealth. The South-East believes in education, and if we fully capitalize on this comparative advantage, no region in Africa will surpass us.”
He further argued that education remains the most effective pathway for positioning the region competitively in the era of artificial intelligence and the global knowledge economy.
According to him, universities across the South-East must prioritise quality assurance and eliminate corruption within higher education institutions to restore public confidence in the value of academic qualifications.
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“We must decisively confront corruption in our universities so that the quality of our graduates will improve. If we solve the problem of education, we will have solved the majority of our developmental challenges.”
Drawing from his experience coordinating national academic competitions, Onyia noted that Ebonyi State had recorded significant improvements in educational outcomes, describing the state as one of the leading performers in recent academic Olympiads
He expressed optimism that the South-East would emerge as one of Nigeria’s strongest educational regions within the next decade if current investments in learning continued.
He also encouraged leading private educational institutions to undertake corporate social responsibility initiatives by supporting less-privileged schools through teacher training, mentorship programmes, and the provision of instructional equipment.
In addition, he advocated comprehensive curriculum reforms that would place greater emphasis on practical learning, innovation, and problem-solving rather than excessive dependence on theoretical instruction.
Presenting the lead paper at the conference, the Deputy Vice-Chancellor of Ebonyi State University, Professor Ike-Elechi Ogba, called on FOSAD to move beyond annual academic engagements by developing a comprehensive development blueprint for both the South-East and Nigeria.
According to him, the region possesses exceptional human resources whose entrepreneurial achievements have significantly contributed to Nigeria’s economic development.
Professor Ogba observed that the South-East has consistently produced outstanding entrepreneurs, industrialists, academics, and technology innovators whose contributions extend across Nigeria and the global economy.
He argued that the economic influence of Igbo entrepreneurs across major commercial centres demonstrates the enormous developmental capacity of the region.
Earlier in his welcome address, the President of FOSAD, Dr. Stephen Nwala stated that the South-East possesses abundant talent, resilience, and entrepreneurial capacity but requires coordinated and sustainable systems to unlock its full developmental potential.
He identified education, agriculture, healthcare, and technological advancement as the four strategic pillars capable of transforming the region over the coming decades.
