The South East Development Commission, SEDC, has announced the grand finale of the inaugural South East Venture Capital Program Pitch Competition, with Finals Day and the Investment Ceremony scheduled for May 25 and 26, 2026, at the International Conference Centre, Enugu.
The Commission said the event would bring together startup founders, technology practitioners, angel investors, venture capital firms, development finance institutions, diaspora investors, policymakers and ecosystem stakeholders in what it described as one of the biggest public sector-backed startup investment initiatives in South East Nigeria.
According to the Commission, the South East Venture Capital Program is a flagship initiative designed to deepen access to startup financing and strengthen investor confidence in the region, in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Tinubu.
The Commission explained in a statement in Abuja on Monday that the programme seeks to establish a more structured and credible venture capital ecosystem in the South East by combining capital deployment, venture development and institutional partnerships.
It stated that since applications opened on March 13, 2026, the programme had attracted more than 1,200 applications from technology-enabled ventures operating across the South East market.
According to the statement, the applications went through a multi-stage merit-based evaluation process covering both the Accelerator and Incubation tracks, with 50 ventures eventually emerging as finalists.
The Commission disclosed that the finalists would participate in a week-long bootcamp focused on pitch-readiness and investment preparedness ahead of the finals.
It further stated that on May 25, the finalists would pitch before a panel of experienced investors and industry experts, while 30 ventures would be selected across both tracks for structured investment support.
“The Investment Ceremony on Tuesday, 26 May, will formally admit the selected ventures into a post-investment incubation and acceleration programme,” the statement said.
The Commission added that the ceremony would convene financing partners, senior government officials and major stakeholders within Nigeria’s innovation and investment ecosystem.
SEDC said the event was open to entrepreneurs, venture capital and private equity firms, academic institutions, corporate organisations and stakeholders interested in the economic development of the South East region.
The Commission reiterated its commitment to inclusive growth, institutional strengthening and mobilisation of private capital for sustainable development across Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu and Imo states.
The statement was signed by Rt Hon. Stanley Ohajuruka, who also serves as Chairman of the South East Venture Capital Program.
Leave a Reply