The South-South Development Commission, SSDC, says it is strengthening ties with Nigeria’s diplomatic missions to attract investment and drive sustainable development across the region.
Managing Director of the commission, Ms Usoro Akpabio, stated this during an interactive engagement with ambassadors-designate from the South-South, held physically and virtually with members of the SSDC board and executive management in attendance.
Akpabio described the session as a strategic step towards accelerating economic growth and deepening development partnerships in the region.
She said closer collaboration between the commission and Nigerian missions abroad would help promote investment, trade, technology transfer and environmental sustainability, which she described as critical to unlocking the South-South’s economic potential.
According to her, the region remains one of Nigeria’s key economic zones, with strong prospects in natural resources, maritime activities, energy, agriculture and youth-driven enterprise.
Akpabio said the SSDC’s mandate covers infrastructure development, economic diversification, environmental sustainability, youth empowerment and industrial growth.
She listed priority areas for collaboration to include the oil and gas value chain, gas commercialisation, agriculture and agro-processing, the maritime and blue economy, renewable energy, industrial parks and infrastructure development.
The SSDC boss also proposed a coordination framework between the commission and Nigerian missions abroad to improve investment promotion and support development partnerships.
Speaking at the session, Ambassador-designate Senator Ita Enang commended the commission for initiating the engagement, describing it as timely. He pledged continued collaboration to attract investment and development opportunities to the South-South.
Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas and Reno Omokri, who joined virtually, also expressed support for the commission’s efforts and pledged to work with it to advance sustainable development in the region.
Other ambassadors-designate, including Abass Braimoh, Efe Clark-Omeru and Philip Ikufusi, said Nigeria was on the path to economic recovery and pledged to collaborate with the SSDC in advancing development across the South-South.
The meeting reflects growing efforts by the commission to build stronger partnerships with Nigeria’s diplomatic corps in support of regional development goals.
