The Enugu State Government has engaged stakeholders in developing a 25-year plan to guide the state’s growth through 2051. The initiative aims to sustain development, infrastructure projects and economic progress beyond the tenure of the current administration.
The State Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning organised the engagement in Enugu on Tuesday. The event, titled “Stakeholders’ Engagement and Data Collection Exercise for Enugu State Development Plan,” brought together representatives from different sectors. Participants included traditional and religious leaders, students, women, youths, farmers, labour unions, academics, business leaders, persons with disabilities and media practitioners.
Enugu Development Plan to Guide Successive Governments
Commissioner for Budget and Economic Planning, Chris-Roberts Ozongwu, described the engagement as a needs assessment exercise. He said it gives residents an opportunity to identify their priorities and contribute to the state’s long-term development strategy.
Ozongwu explained that the plan would guide successive administrations until 2051. He stressed that the initiative belongs to the people of Enugu State, rather than the administration of Governor Peter Mbah alone.
“It is not about the government of Peter Mbah but about the people of the state,” he said. He added that the government wanted people across different sectors to share their views and take ownership of the final plan.
According to the commissioner, future administrations should use the document as a guide when setting development priorities. He also commended participants for attending the exercise and contributing to a plan covering all sectors of the state’s economy.
Ozongwu praised Governor Mbah’s leadership approach, describing it as dynamic and different from conventional governance. He said the administration’s approach had accelerated development since Mbah assumed office.
The long-term initiative also aligns with ongoing efforts to sustain development gains across the state. Residents can read more about Enugu Government’s Efforts to Sustain Development Gains.
UNDP Supports Integration of Sustainable Development Goals
Onyinye Akubuilo-Okpalanma, Senior Special Assistant to Governor Mbah on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), said the engagement would help establish development priorities for the next 25 years.
She explained that her office and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) supported the exercise. Their involvement aims to ensure that the Sustainable Development Goals feature in the state’s development plan.
Akubuilo-Okpalanma expressed optimism about Enugu’s future if the state sustains its current development efforts. She said continued progress could position Enugu as a reference point for Nigeria and Africa.
The plan is expected to provide a long-term framework for development across different sectors. It also seeks to give future governments a shared direction for planning and resource allocation.
Governor Mbah has previously outlined his administration’s broader development ambitions. In another report, Peter Mbah Unveils 10,000+ Achievements and Targets a $30bn Enugu Economy.
NLC Chairman Welcomes Public Participation
Fabian Nwigbo, Chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) in Enugu State, welcomed the engagement. He said it gave stakeholders an opportunity to contribute directly to the state’s long-term development plan.
Nwigbo contrasted the exercise with past approaches to government planning. He said authorities previously designed plans based on their own priorities before presenting them to the public.
He described the current process as an opportunity for citizens to participate in government decisions. According to him, residents can now contribute to discussions about the state’s development goals.
The labour leader’s comments highlighted the importance of public participation in shaping long-term policies. Stakeholder contributions could help ensure the plan reflects the needs of workers, businesses and communities.
The government has also pursued community-level development initiatives across Enugu State. These include the CSDA Community Sensitisation and Participatory Rural Appraisal Exercise, which involved residents in identifying local priorities.
Enugu Targets Sustainable Development Through 2051
The 25-year development plan seeks to establish a framework that remains useful beyond individual administrations. By involving stakeholders, the government hopes to build a shared vision for Enugu State’s future.
The exercise covers infrastructure, economic growth and other areas of public development. It also provides an opportunity to incorporate the views of groups that may have different needs and priorities.
The government expects the plan to guide successive administrations through 2051. Its long-term impact will depend on how future governments adopt, implement and sustain its priorities.
Stakeholders’ contributions will therefore play an important role in shaping the final document. The initiative marks an effort to establish a development framework that extends beyond the tenure of the current government.
