The Group Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of United Bank for Africa (UBA) Plc, Oliver Alawuba, has urged leaders and stakeholders in the South-East to prioritise security, infrastructure development and the delivery of bankable, investment-ready projects to unlock the region’s long-term development goals under the South-East Vision 2050 (S8V2050).
Alawuba made the call while delivering a goodwill message at the South-East Vision 2050 Regional Stakeholder Forum held at the International Conference Centre, Enugu, on Wednesday.
The multi-day forum was convened by the South-East Development Commission (SEDC) in collaboration with the Office of the Vice President, the Ministry of Regional Development and the five South-East state governments to build consensus around a shared development pathway for the region and identify implementation-ready initiatives aligned with national priorities.
Speaking in his dual capacity as UBA GMD/CEO and Chairman of the Body of Banks’ CEOs, Alawuba said peace and security remained the most urgent requirement for attracting investment into the region, noting that safety is the first signal investors consider before committing capital.
“The first thing the South-East needs is peace. It is an established fact worldwide that investments flow in the direction of safety,” he said, urging state governments and regional leaders to intensify coordinated efforts to secure lives, assets and infrastructure.
He stressed that the success of the South-East Vision 2050 would depend largely on the region’s ability to articulate clear, measurable and value-adding projects capable of attracting long-term financing from the banking sector and private investors.
“Vision alone is not enough. The South-East must present specific, bankable projects with defined impact — projects that can unlock investment, create jobs and deliver real improvements in the lives of our people,” Alawuba stated.
The forum drew participants from across government and the private sector, including Vice President Kashim Shettima; governors of Imo, Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi and Enugu states; federal lawmakers; the Minister of Regional Development; the board and management of the SEDC; members of the diplomatic corps; traditional rulers; clergy; captains of industry and development partners.
Alawuba commended the South-East governors for visible progress in road construction and other critical infrastructure across the region but called for accelerated delivery at scale to remove long-standing bottlenecks to productivity and competitiveness.
“Infrastructure is the bedrock of development. We have seen improvements, but more is required — reliable power supply, motorable roads, rail, water and connectivity that can unlock economic activities across the region,” he said.
He also emphasised the need to create a more investor-friendly business environment and harness diaspora capital to drive inclusive growth.
“Capital will always respond to predictability, ease of doing business and confidence. If we get the fundamentals right, Corporate Nigeria and the banking industry will rally round to finance viable projects, support SMEs, create jobs for our youth and mobilise long-term capital to make South-East Vision 2050 a reality,” he added.
The UBA chief reaffirmed the bank’s readiness to partner with the SEDC and South-East state governments, noting that private-sector participation and long-term capital mobilisation would strengthen the credibility and investability of the Vision 2050 framework.
UBA is one of Africa’s largest financial institutions, employing over 25,000 people and serving more than 45 million customers globally. The bank operates in 20 African countries as well as the United Kingdom, United States, France and the United Arab Emirates, providing retail, commercial and institutional banking services while promoting financial inclusion through technology-driven solutions.
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