By Onuchukwu Hamilton
The Orlu Local Government Area Chapter of the South Eastern Development Ambassadors ( SEDA) recently surprised a well performing illustrious son of Umuna Ancient Town in Orlu LGA, Hon. High Chief Amb Prince Joseph Okwara( Akajiugo of Orlu)with a Grand Patron award for many reasons, particularly for his compassion towards the welfare of the lowly and the less privileged.
The decoration ceremony of Hon. Prince Joseph Okwara as SEDA Grand Patron under Orlu LGA, dated 29th of April, 2026 , was conveniently organized and executed in agreement with all the structural heads, the Community Liaison Officers (CLOs) and its overwhelming number of members across the 36 autonomous communities in Orlu LGA.
In his address, the SEDA cordinator for Orlu LGA, Amb. Journalist Onuchukwu Hamilton, commenced with the definition of terms .
In his words. ” At this juncture, I am so delighted to formally introduce this critical intermediary group called SEDA ( South East Development Ambassadors).
SEDA a scintillating acronym, is a double edged voluntary organization , registered in compliance with the laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria with the passion to work with South East Development Commission (SEDC) as; a grass stabilizer , a socio-economic structural group charged with the responsibility of promoting the Developmental Economic activities/ Programs of both the South Eastern Development Commission and its well-meaning individuals.
It is a high powered visionary group for a total rural inclusiveness and sustainable development , conceptualized to amplify the rural voices and effect a catalyze action in promoting SEDC programs and private sector driven development projects in the South East.
” SEDA’s Organo gram captures the State Director General and his central working committee, the LGA Coordinators with their Structural Directorates and Community Liaison Officers (CLO) to promote its Vision and core mandates.
SEDA VISION;
The vision is to work and see the South East where development is inclusive, equitable and responsive to the needs, aspirations of the people.
THE CORE OBJECTIVES:
SEDA exists to mobilize communities as both SEDC partners by ;
1). Advocacy Campaigns
2) Capacity Building;- Providing leadership, the orientation that activates good relationship with the South East Development Commission and its Development Partners.
3) Voice Amplification;-
SEDA creates accessible platforms where the rural dwellers within the South Eastern Region, can speak, innovate , influence and be heard at all levels of decision making.
4). Mentorships with LGA Stakeholders/ Elites;-
SEDA connects with seasoned change makers to facilitate growth, SEDC projects/ programs focusing on economic development.
As we all know, the SEDC headquarters, is located in Enugu with additional offices in each of the fives States. It is a federal agency dedicated to fostering sustainable development, economic growth and unity. Currently, SEDC has a 25 year development blueprint for the South East Region. SEDC was conceived, to focus on structural transformation rather than routine administrative activity. it is a delivery institution and not a bureaucratic layer. It is a delivery institution that focuses on tangible outcomes that must translate into jobs, because it is proved that one of the major economic problems facing the South Eastern part of Nigeria today, is the high rate of unemployment . That, most development plans do not face up to the problem of unemployment. This is an increasingly important problem that has domesticated idleness with its evil consequences like Stealing, armed robbery operations, killing, kidnapping , destruction of industrial and commercial equipment, insecurity and other nefarious activities encumbering development in the South East and Nigeria at large.
The SEDC is designed to operate in an all inclusive nature which embraces the federal, state, local, traditional institutions, private sectors and the civil society organizations.
In the journey for the South East Economic Development, no citizen of the South East origin, should see himself as a spectator. Everybody, is central to it. Your energy, creativity and ambition are so essential to the South East of our dream. Development, cannot be an abstract promise, it must be felt in the daily lives of everybody in the South East.
Therefore, in total compliance with the 4th aims and objectives, the SEDA National Executive Council, has happily approved to partner with a socio-economic cum political trailblazer like High Chief Prince Joseph Okwara as a Grand Patron in Orlu LGA, , after a rigorous survey and investigation on his personal profile, vision and achievements in Orlu by LGA.
Today, Amb. High Chief Prince Joseph Okwara joins as the 3rd distinguished Orlu personality, to be distinquishly decorated within my three months in office as the SEDA coordinator for Orlu LGA.
” Please, there is something people still don’t understand about Amb.High Chief , Prince Joseph Okwara, (Akajiugo) . “A struggle, to him, is never a setback. He severally stated, ” that nothing about real change, is easy” ” That those who really want a positive change, don’t operate where things are so comfortable” They, stand where the pressure is highest, where resistance is strongest, where the system fights back the hardest. “Above all Prince Joseph Okwara ( Akajiugo) is a political gyroscope in Orlu LGA.
In a well articulated acceptance speech and words of encouragement to all the SEDA members of Orlu Chapter, Hon.Prince Akajiugo expressed gratitude over the concept that gave birth to the South East Development Commission SEDC and the idea of creating SEDA as to fully embrace the grassroots as indispensable machineries in progress. He was so optimistic that the existing of SEDC and SEDA will address the Problem of residual unemployment, seasonal unemployment, technological unemployment, frictional unemployment and mass unemployment within the South East Region and Nigeria at large. The admonished SEDA members, to remain focused and promised to leave up to his billings.
