The Senate has announced Senator Orji Uzor Kalu (APC, Abia-North) as the pioneer Chairman of the newly established Senate Committee on South East Development Commission (SEDC).
The announcement was made on Tuesday, February 4, by the President of the Senate, Senator Godswill Akpabio.
The SEDC, recently signed into law by President Bola Tinubu, is one of the Regional Development Commissions designed to address key developmental challenges in the South-East region.
Before this new appointment, Senator Kalu, a former Governor of Abia State, served as the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Privatisation. Senator Ken Eze (Ebonyi Central) was named Vice Chairman of the committee, while Akpabio noted that the other members of the committee would be announced later.
Senator Kalu will lead the committee in overseeing the South-East Development Commission’s activities, focusing on objectives such as civil restitution, addressing erosion, restoring security, and improving infrastructure.
The Senate also confirmed the leadership of the 18-member SEDC board, with Dr. Emeka Nworgu as Chairman and Hon. Mark Okoye as Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer. Other confirmed board members include Ugochukwu H. Agballah, Hon. Okey Izenwa, Chief Hyacinth Ikpor, Chidi Echeazu, Ifeanyi Agwu, Nasiru Usman, Hamma Adama Ali, Kumo Edward David Onoja, and Orure Kufre Inima.
Additional members are Daniel Akwari, Chief (Mrs.) Joke Adebayo-Chukwuma, Hon. Stanley Ohajuruka (Executive Director, Finance), Chief Sylvester Okonkwo (Executive Director, Corporate Services), Hon. Toby Okechukwu (Executive Director, Projects), Senator Anthony Agbo (Executive Director, Commercial and Industrial Development), and Dr. Clifford Ogbede (Executive Director, Natural Resources, Agriculture, and Rural Development).
