A renewed push to harness the economic potential of Nigeria’s South-South gained momentum as Ambassadors-Designate from the region pledged firm support for the South-South Development Commission (SSDC) in its drive to attract investment and accelerate development.
At a strategic engagement session convened with diplomats, the Managing Director of SSDC, Ms. Usoro Akpabio, said the Commission is deliberately building alliances with Nigeria’s foreign missions to fast-track growth across key sectors.
The meeting, which drew participation from ambassadors both in-person and virtually, as well as SSDC Board members and Executive Directors, served as a platform to align priorities and deepen cooperation for regional transformation.
Akpabio underscored the importance of leveraging diplomatic channels to promote trade, unlock foreign direct investment, encourage technology transfer, and address environmental challenges in the region.
She described the South-South as a cornerstone of Nigeria’s economy, endowed with vast oil and gas reserves, maritime advantages, agricultural potential, and a youthful population capable of driving innovation and productivity.
According to her, the Commission is prioritizing infrastructure expansion, economic diversification, industrialization, and youth empowerment, while also pursuing sustainable environmental practices.
She identified high-impact sectors for collaboration, including the oil and gas value chain, gas commercialization, agro-processing, maritime and blue economy development, renewable energy, and industrial hubs. She also called for a coordinated framework with Nigerian missions abroad to aggressively promote the region as an investment destination.
Responding, Ambassador-Designate Senator Ita Enang praised the initiative as a bold and necessary step, assuring that the diplomatic community would actively support efforts to channel investments into the South-South.
Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas and Reno Omokri, who joined virtually, echoed this commitment, emphasizing the need for sustained partnerships to deliver measurable development outcomes.
Other diplomats, including Abass Braimoh, Efe Clark-Omeru, and Philip Ikufusi, expressed confidence in Nigeria’s economic recovery path and reaffirmed their readiness to collaborate with the SSDC in driving inclusive growth.
The engagement signals a growing synergy between the SSDC and Nigeria’s diplomatic network, setting the stage for a coordinated campaign to reposition the South-South as a major hub for investment and sustainable development.
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