By Oluwakemi Kindness
The South East Development Commission (SEDC) has announced the Grand Finale of its inaugural South East Venture Capital Program (SEVCP) Pitch Competition, scheduled to hold in Enugu.
The SEDC said the programme is a flagship initiative aligned with the vision of President Bola Tinubu, as outlined in the Renewed Hope Agenda (page 50), which prioritizes innovative financing mechanisms to support startups and strengthen investor confidence in Nigeria’s economy.
The statement signed by Stanley Ohajuruka, Executive Director, Finance, explains that the initiative is designed to build a structured venture capital ecosystem for the South East by combining capital deployment, venture development, and institutional partnerships.
According to the Commission on Monday, the event will feature two key activities which include the Finals Day on Monday, 25 May 2026, and the Investment Ceremony on Tuesday, 26 May 2026.
The statement noted that since the call for applications on 13 March 2026, the programme received over 1,200 applications from technology-enabled ventures serving the South East market. After a multi-stage evaluation process under both the Accelerator and Incubation tracks, 50 finalists emerged.
The Commission noted that the finalists will participate in a week-long bootcamp focused on pitch readiness and investment preparation ahead of the final selection stages.
The ceremony will bring together financing partners, senior public officials, and key stakeholders from Nigeria’s investment and innovation ecosystem.
SEDC stated that the events are open to founders, entrepreneurs, angel and diaspora investors, venture capital and private equity firms, development finance institutions, corporate organisations, academic institutions, and stakeholders committed to the economic future of the South East.
It added that the programme provides a platform for direct engagement between emerging ventures, capital providers, and policy leadership, while signalling a shift toward coordinated long-term investment in the region’s productive capacity.
The South East Development Commission reaffirmed its commitment to inclusive growth, institutional strengthening, and investment mobilisation across Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu, and Imo States.
