By Gloria Ikibah
The South East Development Commission has commenced the grand finale of its inaugural South East Venture Capital Programme, marking a major step towards expanding access to investment funding for emerging businesses across the region.
The event, taking place at the International Conference Centre in Enugu, features 50 finalist ventures selected from more than 1,200 applications submitted by entrepreneurs from across the South-East and other parts of the country. 
According to the Commission, the initiative forms part of a broader strategy aimed at creating sustainable investment structures for innovation-driven enterprises and strengthening the region’s economic competitiveness.
The finalists emerged after a rigorous selection process involving video pitch reviews, phased assessments and judging rounds. The businesses were grouped into two categories, the Accelerator Track for ventures with measurable market traction and the Incubation Track for early-stage startups with strong growth potential.
Ahead of the final presentations, participants underwent an intensive investment-readiness bootcamp in Enugu focused on business development, investor engagement and pitch refinement.
Speaking before the grand finale, the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the Commission, Mark Okoye, described the programme as a strategic economic intervention rather than a routine competition.
“What is taking place here is not simply a startup pitch event. It is the deliberate construction of institutional capital infrastructure for the South East. For far too long, exceptional entrepreneurial talent in this region has operated without the kind of structured financial backing required to scale sustainably. The South East Venture Capital Program is our response to that gap, carefully designed to create long-term pathways for capital, innovation, and enterprise growth,” he said.
The 30 successful ventures selected from the finale will be unveiled during the inaugural investment ceremony scheduled for Tuesday, May 26, 2026. The selected businesses are expected to receive structured early-stage investment support under the South East Venture Capital Fund.
The Commission explained that the Fund was established to tackle one of the region’s longstanding economic challenges, limited access to institutional startup financing. It added that the investment framework is expected to attract up to $50 million in blended financing from public institutions, development finance partners, private investors and diaspora contributors over time.
Also speaking, the Executive Director of Finance at the Commission and Chairman of the South East Venture Capital Programme, Stanley Ohajuruka, said the initiative had already demonstrated the depth of entrepreneurial talent within the region.
“What this programme has demonstrated very clearly is the depth of entrepreneurial ambition that exists across the South East. The volume and quality of participation affirm that there is no shortage of high-potential ventures in the region. The challenge has always been creating credible structures through which promising ventures can access early support, build investor confidence, and progress toward scale. This initiative is an important first step in building that bridge between enterprise and capital,” he stated.
The programme aligns with the Federal Government’s economic agenda focused on enterprise development, innovation and job creation under the Renewed Hope initiative.
