By Gloria Ikibah
The South East Development Commission SEDC, has announced the grand finale of its inaugural South East Venture Capital Program, with two major events set to take place in Enugu later this month.
In a statement issued ahead of the event, Executive Director, Finance Chairman, SEVCP, Rt. Hon. Stanley Ohajuruka,
the Commission said the competition will culminate in a Finals Day on 25 May 2026, followed by an Investment Ceremony on 26 May at the International Conference Center Enugu.
The Commission described the programme as a significant step towards strengthening startup financing in the region, stating that the initiative aligns with the economic vision of Bola Ahmed Tinubu under the Renewed Hope Agenda. It added that the effort is aimed at creating more structured funding opportunities for emerging businesses while improving investor confidence.
“The South East Venture Capital Program represents one of the most significant public commitments to startup investment in South East Nigeria,” the statement said, noting that the initiative is designed to move beyond fragmented support schemes towards a more coordinated venture capital ecosystem.
According to the Commission, more than 1,200 applications were received following the call for entries in March, with submissions coming from technology-driven ventures focused on the South East market. After a multi-stage selection process, 50 finalists have been chosen across both incubation and accelerator tracks.
During the finals, participating ventures will pitch to a panel of investors and industry experts, with 30 expected to secure selection for funding and further support.
“These applications were evaluated through a rigorous, multi-stage merit-based process across both the Accelerator and Incubation tracks. Fifty ventures have emerged as finalists, and will undertake an intensive week-long bootcamp on pitch-readiness and investment readiness, ahead of the Finals Day and the Investment Ceremony.
“The selected ventures will receive structured investment commitments and will be admitted into a post-investment incubation and acceleration programme,” the statement added.
The Commission said the event will bring together a wide range of stakeholders, including founders, investors, development finance institutions and policymakers, creating an opportunity for direct engagement within the innovation ecosystem.
“These events are open to founders and entrepreneurs, angel and diaspora investors, venture capital and private equity firms, development finance institutions, corporate organisations, academic institutions, and all stakeholders committed to the economic future of the South East.
“They provide a platform for direct engagement with emerging ventures, capital providers, and policy leadership, and signal a broader shift towards coordinated, long-term investment in the region’s productive capacity”, the commission noted.
The SEDC reaffirmed its commitment to driving economic growth and unlocking private capital across the South East states of Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu and Imo, while encouraging interested participants to register ahead of the event.