The Vice President gave the commendation while speaking at the Vision 2050 South East Stakeholders Forum with the theme “Charting a Shared Vision for a Sustainable Prosperity for South East Nigeria,” held at the International Conference Centre, Enugu.
According to Vice President Shettima, Governor Nwifuru’s leadership style and commitment to fairness have helped to douse tension and restore calm in the affected communities, expressing confidence that the Governor’s approach will bring lasting peace to the area.
He noted that peace and stability remain critical prerequisites for sustainable development, adding that Governor Nwifuru has demonstrated political maturity and a genuine concern for the wellbeing of his people in the way he addressed the crisis.
Vice President Shettima further reiterated the Federal Government’s commitment to regional development anchored on aligning national policies, resources and political will with the Southeast Vision 2050 agenda. He described the South East as strategic to the Federal Government’s development initiatives, citing the region’s strong entrepreneurial spirit and economic potential.
The Vice President also called on leaders of the region to galvanize support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration, noting that inclusive governance and regional cooperation are essential for national growth.
Speaking earlier at the forum, Governor Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru emphasized Ebonyi State’s resolve to harness its abundant solid mineral resources to drive industrialization and contribute to national and regional development.
He expressed appreciation to President Tinubu for his vision for the federating units, particularly the South East, as demonstrated by the establishment of the Southeast Development Commission (SEDC).
Governor Nwifuru stated that Ebonyi State is richly endowed with lead, zinc, limestone, salt and granite, adding that the state is adopting a reform oriented approach focused on formal licensing, investor screening, community engagement and linking mineral extraction to local processing.
He disclosed that the state’s industrial roadmap includes plans to establish at least two cement factories, leveraging Ebonyi’s proximity to key raw materials such as limestone and gypsum, while also processing lead, zinc and salt to support metal fabrication, food processing and chemical industries.
The Governor commended the Southeast Development Commission for the initiative and called on fellow governors in the region to support the full actualization of the Vision 2050 agenda.
