The South East Development Commission (SEDC) has announced the grand finale of the inaugural South East Venture Capital Programme (SEVCP) Pitch Competition, culminating in two landmark events.
While the finals is slated for May 25 at the International Conference Center, Enugu, the investment ceremony will hold on May 26, 2026, at the same venue.
The programme is aimed at advancing the Renewed Hope Agenda’s commitment to expand access to capital for startups and strengthen Nigeria’s investment landscape.
SEDC’s executive director, Finance and chairman, SEVCP Committee, Hon. Stanley Ohajuruka, in a statement, said 50 ventures had emerged as finalists and will undertake an intensive week-long bootcamp on pitch-readiness and investment readiness, ahead of the finals say and the investment ceremony.
“SEDC invites founders, technology practitioners, angel investors, investment companies, development finance institutions, institutional investors, diaspora capital holders, policymakers, ecosystem partners, and members of the public to witness what represents one of the most significant public commitment to startup investment in South East Nigeria.
“The South East Venture Capital Programme is a flagship initiative of the Commission, aligned with the vision of His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, as articulated in the Renewed Hope Agenda (page 50), which prioritises innovative financing mechanisms to support local funding opportunities for startups while strengthening investor confidence in Nigeria’s economy.
“It reflects a deliberate effort to move beyond fragmented interventions towards a more structured and credible venture capital ecosystem for the South East, combining capital deployment with venture development and institutional partnerships.
“Since the Call for Applications on 13 March 2026, the Program has attracted over 1,200 applications from technology-enabled ventures serving the South East market. These applications were evaluated through a rigorous, multi-stage merit-based process across both the Accelerator and Incubation tracks.
“Fifty ventures have emerged as finalists, and will undertake an intensive week-long bootcamp on pitch-readiness and investment readiness, ahead of the Finals Day and the Investment Ceremony.
“On Monday, 25 May, the finalists will present to a panel of experienced investors and sector experts, with thirty ventures to be selected across both tracks. This will be followed by an investment Ceremony on Tuesday, 26 May, where the selected ventures will receive structured investment commitments and be formally admitted into a post-investment incubation and acceleration programme.
“The ceremony will convene financing partners, senior public officials, and key stakeholders from Nigeria’s investment and innovation ecosystem. These events are open to founders and entrepreneurs, angel and diaspora investors, venture capital and private equity firms, development finance institutions, corporate organisations, academic institutions, and all stakeholders committed to the economic future of the South East.
“They provide a platform for direct engagement with emerging ventures, capital providers, and policy leadership, and signal a broader shift towards coordinated, long-term investment in the region’s productive capacity.
“The South East Development Commission remains committed to advancing inclusive growth, strengthening institutional credibility, and unlocking private capital for sustainable development across Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu, and Imo States,” statement reads.
