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SEDC Unveils Winners of Landmark South East Venture Capital Pitch Contest
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By Gloria Ikibah
The South East Development Commission (SEDC) has announced the winners of the maiden edition of the South East Venture Capital Program (SEVCP) Pitch Competition, signalling what officials described as a major step towards building a stronger innovation and enterprise ecosystem across Nigeria’s South East.
The competition ended with a high-profile Finals Day and Investment Ceremony in Enugu, where startups from sectors including healthcare, artificial intelligence, clean energy, agriculture, fintech, logistics, education technology and mobility presented their business ideas before investors and industry experts.
The initiative was organised under two categories — the Incubator Track and the Accelerator Track. While the Incubator Track focused on supporting early-stage businesses with foundational development and venture readiness, the Accelerator Track targeted startups with more advanced and scalable business models.
At the end of the selection process, ten startups emerged under the Incubator Track, while fifteen secured places under the Accelerator Track following a competitive evaluation involving investors, business executives, ecosystem leaders and industry specialists.
The Commission explained that although the accelerator category was initially designed to support twenty startups from an expected pool of thirty finalists, only twenty-five businesses eventually pitched before the panel. It stated that the number of winners was reduced to fifteen to preserve the quality and competitiveness of the programme.
Speaking on the significance of the initiative, the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of SEDC, Mark Okoye II, said the Commission remained committed to supporting indigenous entrepreneurs capable of transforming the region’s economy.
Okoye added that the programme was designed to serve as more than a startup contest.
He said: “The Commission remains committed to identifying and supporting indigenous entrepreneurs capable of building scalable businesses that can drive industrialization, create jobs, attract investment, and reposition the South East as a leading innovation destination on the continent.”
“The South East Venture Capital Program is not merely a startup competition but a long-term economic development strategy designed to unlock the entrepreneurial potential of the region and strengthen the pipeline of investable businesses emerging from the South East.”
The selected startups are expected to receive financial backing, mentorship, investor access, technical support, advisory services and broader post-programme growth opportunities aimed at helping them become sustainable and investment-ready enterprises.
SEDC also reaffirmed its commitment to working closely with venture capital firms, innovation hubs, development institutions, academic organisations and private sector partners to deepen entrepreneurship and innovation-led economic growth across the South East.
The Commission further commended participating founders, judges, mentors, sponsors and ecosystem partners for contributing to the successful execution of the programme’s inaugural edition.
The startups selected under the Incubator Track are Health Vault NG LTD, VIBET BIO, Wattmuse Energy, KoboTrac, Simsak, Growdex, Farmi AI LTD, CNG Protect, Linia Finance and Keke Ride.
Those selected under the Accelerator Track include Ondigo Technologies Limited, Skilladder, KIRA AI LIMITED, RapidMedicare Limited, SmartAirs, Bra-X, Stur Africa, Nigenius, SpaceOps, FLOF CO, Case Radar, Smart Transport Grid Ltd (STRAG), 8Bit Digital Systems Limited, CLIMAX GREEN (AGROFUXION), and Afiari.
The Commission noted that the programme forms part of a broader long-term strategy aimed at driving innovation-led growth, strengthening enterprise development and building a globally competitive South East economy through sustained investment in entrepreneurship, technology and talent development.
Operatives of the Delta State Police Command have arrested 22 suspects and rescued two minors during an intelligence-led raid on suspected illicit drug dens and criminal hideouts in Ozoro and Abraka communities.
The operation, carried out on July 21, was part of the command’s ongoing campaign against illicit drug trafficking and related crimes across the state.
The Police Public Relations Officer, SP Bright Edafe, disclosed this in a statement released on Thursday, saying the operation was led by the Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of the Department of Operations.
Edafe said, “On 21st July 2026, at about 1500 hours, the Deputy Commissioner of Police, Department of Operations, led operatives of the Command on a coordinated raid of identified illicit drug dens and criminal hideouts at Ofagbe Community, Ozoro, Ekrejeta, and the NUT Area, Abraka, following credible intelligence.
“The operation led to the arrest of 22 suspects, comprising 19 males and three females, for offences relating to the sale, possession, and distribution of illicit drugs.
“During the operation, operatives also rescued two minors who were found in a suspected drug den allegedly operated by their father.
“The children have been taken into protective custody. They will be handed over to the Delta State Ministry of Women Affairs for appropriate care and safeguarding, while investigations into the activities of the suspects are ongoing.”
Reacting to the operation, the Commissioner of Police, CP Yemi Oyeniyi, described the discovery of minors in a suspected drug environment as “deeply disturbing.”
He reaffirmed the command’s commitment to dismantling drug trafficking networks and protecting vulnerable persons.
The commissioner also urged parents, guardians and community leaders to continue supporting the police with useful information, assuring residents that “the Command will sustain intelligence-led operations to rid Delta State of illicit drug activities and other forms of criminality.”
On July 10, the Yobe State Police Command arrested 14 suspected drug dealers during a coordinated raid on criminal hideouts and drug joints in Jakusko Local Government Area of the state.
The officers also recovered over 300 sachets and packages of suspected illicit drugs, including Tramadol, Vega tablets, Indian hemp and other prohibited.
Abia State Police Command has began investigation to uncover the root cause of the death of five persons from a single family, who were discovered dead in their family house at Umuimo, Osisioma Ngwa local government area of the State on Wednesday, July 22, 2026.
Decomposing corpses of the five Umuimo residents were discovered by their neighbors and other community members, about three days after they had retired to bed.
It was gathered that the father of the House, late Mr. Kachi Nnabugwu, his wife, Mrs. Chinaza Nnabugwu and their three little children could not come out of their house since Sunday, a situation that made the neighbors to force their locked house open after repeated knocking, only for the five family members to be found dead.
Containers of left over food and a generator set were reportedly found in the building, after the house had been broken open.
The bodies of the victims were on Wednesday evacuated from the compound and taken to the mortuary, even as residents of the area demanded a government thorough investigation to determine the actual cause of their death.
Contacted on Wednesday, the Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO of Abia State Police Command, DSP Maureen Chinaka confirmed the incident, saying that investigation had commenced.
“Yes, the attention of the Osisioma Divisional Police Headquarters was drawn to the incident on 22/07/2026 by the brother of the deceased who reported that after being unable to reach Kachi Nnabugwu, they proceeded to his residence at Umuimo Village, Osisioma LGA.
“Upon arrival, repeated knocks yielded no response. They subsequently forced entry into the house, where they discovered the lifeless and decomposing bodies of their brother and his family.
“The crime scene has been visited. A preliminary visual inspection of the bodies was conducted, and photographs taken.
The corpses have been deposited at the morgue for preservation and autopsy,” DSP Chinaka said.
Inspector General of Police (IGP), Olatunji Disu(first right) decorating Dr. Hycinth Azuka Edozie with his new rank of Assistant Inspector General of Police. Mr. Chidi Dozie is helping the IGP in the task.
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