By Jemimah Wellington, JKNewsMedia Correspondent
A FEDERALLY backed investment vehicle is taking shape to drive large-scale industrial growth across Nigeria’s South-East region, following President Bola Tinubu’s approval of the South-East Investment Company (SEIC) as part of an ambitious public-private initiative.
The company, expected to manage a capital base exceeding N150 billion, will operate as the commercial and investment arm of the South-East Development Commission (SEDC).
Designed as a partnership among state governments, private investors, development finance institutions, and diaspora stakeholders, SEIC is being positioned to unlock long-term economic value through coordinated capital mobilisation.
Unveiled at the State House, Abuja, where President Tinubu presented its Certificate of Incorporation, SEIC is tasked with advancing competitiveness in the region through targeted investments in infrastructure, entrepreneurship, and education.
According to a statement by the Presidency, the new company will utilise hybrid bonds, equity participation, and callable capital to attract private sector financing while mitigating investment risks.
Pilot fundraising and investments are projected to commence by the fourth quarter of 2025, as SEIC undergoes regulatory and compliance procedures to meet international standards.
The operational framework aligns with national goals for decentralised development and financial innovation.
At the official launch, Minister of Regional Development, Engr. Abubakar Momoh, and SEDC Managing Director, Mark Okoye, described the company as a pivotal instrument in shaping the region’s economic trajectory.
Okoye called the project “a bold, long-term strategy” that aims to bridge the divide between public sector intent and private sector execution while delivering inclusive growth.
He adds that the SEIC is expected to serve as a catalyst for unlocking latent economic potential, channelling private capital into strategic sectors, and establishing the South-East as a regional industrial hub under Nigeria’s broader development agenda.
