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From Jude Chinedu, Enugu
The newly inaugurated Igbo Heritage Renaissance Forum (IHRF) has called for stronger collaboration among the five South East states, saying only coordinated regional action can unlock the zone’s full economic and development potential.
The group made the call in Enugu during its maiden press conference, where it formally unveiled its vision for regional development and adopted what it described as the Enugu Declaration on South East Development.
Speaking on behalf of the President of the Forum, Deputy President, Chijioke Ogbodo, said the organisation was established as a non-partisan civic and public policy platform dedicated to promoting good governance, policy dialogue, research, civic participation, and strategic partnerships for the advancement of the South East.
He said the forum was founded on the conviction that sustainable development in the region requires “purposeful leadership, regional cooperation, responsible citizenship, and enduring partnerships across all sectors of society.”
“The IHRF is a duly registered, non-partisan civic and public policy organisation committed to promoting regional development, good governance, policy dialogue, research, civic participation, and strategic collaboration for the advancement of the South East,” he said.
Ogbodo said the organisation is not being set up as another pressure group focused on criticism, but as “a credible platform that encourages ideas, builds consensus, promotes accountability, and supports initiatives that improve the quality of life of our people.”
He expressed confidence that the South East possesses the human capital, entrepreneurial drive, rich cultural heritage, and economic potential to become one of Nigeria’s most prosperous regions, but stressed that such a vision would only be realised through greater cooperation among governments, institutions, businesses, and citizens.
The forum, therefore, urged the governments of Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu, and Imo states to strengthen collaboration in addressing common regional priorities.
Ogbodo said issues such as infrastructure, transportation, security, environmental sustainability, industrialisation, agriculture, investment promotion, tourism, innovation, and human capital development transcend state boundaries and require coordinated planning.
The organisation also commended the governors of the five South East states for ongoing reforms and development initiatives across their respective states.
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“We commend the governors of the five South East states for the various initiatives and reforms they are implementing to improve infrastructure, expand economic opportunities, and strengthen governance within their respective states. Every genuine effort that advances development in any part of the South East contributes to the overall progress of the region,” Ogbodo stated.
He added that the forum was ready to partner with state governments, local government councils, traditional institutions, town unions, the organised private sector, professional bodies, academia, civil society organisations, faith-based groups, development partners, the media, women and youth organisations, as well as the South East diaspora to promote policies capable of delivering sustainable development.
The IHRF also praised President Bola Tinubu for signing into law the legislation establishing the South East Development Commission (SEDC), while commending the National Assembly for facilitating its creation.
Ogbodo described the commission as a major opportunity to accelerate infrastructure renewal, ecological restoration, economic growth, and human capital development across the region.
“The creation of the SEDC places the South East among Nigeria’s geopolitical zones with dedicated regional development commissions. We regard this as an important opportunity to accelerate infrastructure renewal, ecological restoration, economic growth, and human capital development across the region,” he said.
While expressing support for the commission, the forum urged its leadership to uphold transparency, accountability, inclusiveness, and measurable project delivery in carrying out its mandate.
The group also acknowledged the recent oversight intervention by the Senate Committee on the South East Development Commission, including its request for detailed financial records, procurement documents and expenditure reports, as well as the explanations provided by the commission’s management regarding its spending approach.
“We shall support policies and programmes that advance the public interest, acknowledge measurable progress wherever it is achieved, and offer objective, evidence-based recommendations where improvements are required,” Ogbodo assured.
As part of the event, the forum formally adopted the Enugu Declaration on South East Development, which it described as a policy framework outlining its vision for regional cooperation, sustainable development, good governance, and inclusive prosperity.
The organisation invited governments, development partners, businesses, and citizens to embrace the declaration and work collectively towards building a more united, secure, prosperous, and competitive South East.
