@markokoyeII, SEDC’s “Vision 2050” is a commendable long-term blueprint for the South East. However, it would be helpful for the commission to also communicate its short- and medium-term roadmap, clearly highlighting milestones and initiatives that can deliver more immediate benefits to our people while the broader vision is being strategically implemented.
I recommend that a deliberate strategy to expose and equip our young people with in-demand technology skills should equally be at the core of the commission’s roadmap, not only to build startups, but also to become highly skilled professionals in emerging tech fields such as AI, software engineering, cybersecurity, data analytics, cloud computing, and many more.
As well as creating scholarship and talent development programmes that identify, support, and nurture exceptional young people across the South East. As these programmes could provide access to quality education, professional certifications, vocational training, research opportunities, mentorship, internships, and global technology exposure for deserving students and young professionals, regardless of their socioeconomic background - you can partner with
@winexviv on the ISEE program.
In addition, given the current realities and direction of many of our young people, and looking extensively at where their present focus lie; awareness, access, and capacity-building should be a key part of the SEDC’s development agenda to redirect our young ones both as an immediate impact and as a strategic pathway for a better, inclusive, and more sustainable future for the South East.
Then for a more general impact, a renewed investment in critical physical infrastructure such renovation of public schools, modernization of primary healthcare centres, improved road networks (like inter-community roads), access to clean water, reliable power supply (by providing transformers, electric poles, and other electrical equipment for remote villages or communities that are struggling to have electricity or never had one), agricultural value-chain development, and youth innovation hubs across our region should equally be enshrined in the commission’s short, medium, and long term priorities.
@markokoyeII, I strongly believe that as a young man who has the rare opportunity to sit as the director of SEDC, it’s important that you do everything humanly possible to leverage on the funding of the Federal Government to make a strategic, remarkable, and lasting impact by aggressively investing in human capital development that is not only targeted for “Vision 2025” but also clearly designed for immediate impact that would not just only create employment opportunities and reduce youth unemployment - which would significantly and drastically reduce criminality in our region, but also position the South East as a leading hub for innovation, technology, entrepreneurship, and skilled talent development in Nigeria and across Africa in the nearest future.
Let’s make South East great through SEDC.
#SEDC #SEV2050 #RegionalDevelopment