The Forum of South-East Academic Doctors (FOSAD) has concluded its 2026 International Conference with a call for coordinated regional action aimed at accelerating sustainable development across the South-East through strategic investments in education, agriculture, healthcare and technological innovation.
The two-day conference, held on 2 and 3 July 2026, brought together PhD holders, researchers, academics, policymakers and development experts from the five South-East states to deliberate on the theme: “Reinvigorating South-East Nigeria Development through Sustainable Education, Agriculture, Health, and Technological Advancement.”
The State Chapter election of FOSAD also took place during the conference and the following state chairman emerged:
Abia – Dr Kelechi Nwosu
Anambra – Dr Chidi Okoye
Ebonyi – Dr Clement Amagu
Enugu – Dr Blessing Agbo
Imo – Glory Ifeyinwa Ibeawuchi
Participants examined critical development challenges confronting the region and adopted a 10-point communiqué outlining practical policy recommendations designed to promote inclusive economic growth, strengthen educational institutions, modernize agriculture, improve healthcare delivery and accelerate technological advancement.
Delivering the keynote address, the Chief Executive Officer of Educare, Mr. Alex Onyia, described human capital as Nigeria’s most valuable resource, arguing that sustainable national development depends primarily on investing in education rather than relying on natural resources.
According to him, “The greatest asset Nigeria has is not oil; the greatest asset Nigeria has is its people.”
He observed that countries that deliberately invested in education and human capital had achieved remarkable developmental progress, citing Singapore as an example of a nation that transformed itself through sustained educational reforms and strategic investment in knowledge.
“Singapore of today is better than the Singapore of yesterday, whereas Nigeria of yesterday is better than Nigeria of today,” he remarked.
Onyia stressed that the South-East possesses a long-standing educational tradition capable of positioning the region as a continental leader in knowledge production and innovation if properly harnessed.
“The mind is an endless source of wealth. The South-East believes in education, and if we fully capitalize on this comparative advantage, no region in Africa will surpass us.”
He further argued that education remains the most effective pathway for positioning the region competitively in the era of Artificial Intelligence and the global knowledge economy.
According to him, universities across the South-East must prioritise quality assurance and eliminate corruption within higher education institutions to restore public confidence in the value of academic qualifications.
“We must decisively confront corruption in our universities so that the quality of our graduates will improve. If we solve the problem of education, we will have solved the majority of our developmental challenges.”
Drawing from his experience coordinating national academic competitions, Onyia noted that Ebonyi State had recorded significant improvements in educational outcomes, describing the state as one of the leading performers in recent academic Olympiads.
He expressed optimism that the South-East would emerge as one of Nigeria’s strongest educational regions within the next decade if current investments in learning continued.
He also encouraged leading private educational institutions to undertake corporate social responsibility initiatives by supporting less-privileged schools through teacher training, mentorship programmes and the provision of instructional equipment.
In addition, he advocated comprehensive curriculum reforms that would place greater emphasis on practical learning, innovation and problem-solving rather than excessive dependence on theoretical instruction.
Presenting the lead paper at the conference, the Deputy Vice-Chancellor of Ebonyi State University, Professor Ike-Elechi Ogba, called on FOSAD to move beyond annual academic engagements by developing a comprehensive development blueprint for both the South-East and Nigeria.
According to him, the region possesses exceptional human resources whose entrepreneurial achievements have significantly contributed to Nigeria’s economic development.
Professor Ogba observed that the South-East has consistently produced outstanding entrepreneurs, industrialists, academics and technology innovators whose contributions extend across Nigeria and the global economy.
He argued that the economic influence of Igbo entrepreneurs across major commercial centres demonstrates the enormous developmental capacity of the region.
“Remove Igbos from Lagos, Northern Nigeria, the United Kingdom, South Africa and the United States, and the economies of those places would feel the impact,” he stated.
Drawing lessons from the developmental experience of South Korea, Professor Ogba encouraged young scholars to emulate countries that deliberately acquired global knowledge before returning home to build their societies.
He therefore appealed to successful Igbo business leaders to invest substantially in educational institutions across the South-East as part of their contribution to regional development.
He described FOSAD as “the crème de la crème of education in the South-East” and urged members to provide intellectual leadership on issues affecting the region.
Professor Ogba also advocated the establishment of specialised Igbo Research Centres within universities across the South-East to promote research, preserve cultural heritage and develop policy solutions tailored to regional realities.
He further advised academics to maintain humility and professionalism while engaging public office holders.
“Political office holders sometimes feel intimidated by PhD holders. We must carry ourselves with grace because we possess knowledge that should be used to serve society.”
Earlier in his welcome address, the President of FOSAD, Dr. Stephen Nwala, stated that the South-East possesses abundant talent, resilience and entrepreneurial capacity but requires coordinated and sustainable systems to unlock its full developmental potential.
He identified education, agriculture, healthcare and technological advancement as the four strategic pillars capable of transforming the region over the coming decades.
Speaking on education, Dr. Nwala said the region must shift its emphasis from certificate acquisition to competence development by investing in vocational education, digital literacy, innovation and research capable of addressing local challenges.
According to him, educational institutions must prioritise the production of innovators, entrepreneurs and critical thinkers who will drive sustainable development over the next fifty years.
On agriculture, he noted that despite the South-East’s fertile land and hardworking farming population, the region continues to import products that could easily be cultivated and processed locally.
He therefore called for the modernisation of agriculture through climate-smart farming, improved access to finance, storage infrastructure and agro-processing value chains capable of retaining wealth within local communities.
Dr. Nwala further stressed that agriculture should be repositioned as a profitable business venture capable of attracting educated young people rather than being viewed merely as a subsistence occupation.
Addressing healthcare, he argued that no economy can achieve sustainable growth without a healthy population.
He therefore advocated increased investment in primary healthcare, maternal and child health services, mental healthcare and digital health technologies capable of improving healthcare delivery across rural communities.
He equally described technological advancement as the principal accelerator of regional development.
According to him, innovation has the capacity to reduce production costs, expand economic opportunities and create entirely new industries in agriculture, healthcare, manufacturing and financial technology.
He called for increased investment in digital infrastructure, innovation ecosystems and policies that would enable young people to become creators rather than consumers of technology.
Dr. Nwala further emphasised that education, agriculture, health and technology must not be treated as isolated sectors but should function as integrated components of a comprehensive regional development strategy.
He urged stronger collaboration among academics, governments, private sector leaders and development partners to translate research into practical policies capable of transforming the South-East.
At the conclusion of the conference, participants adopted a comprehensive communiqué containing key recommendations for regional development.
Among the resolutions, FOSAD resolved to champion the establishment of Igbo Research Centres in universities and other higher institutions across the South-East to promote indigenous scholarship, innovation and cultural preservation.
The conference also called on the Federal Government to prioritise the approval, funding and construction of a deep seaport in the South-East as part of Nigeria’s long-term maritime and economic development strategy.
Participants urged the South-East Development Commission (SEDC) to make seaport development one of its flagship regional infrastructure projects while encouraging the five South-East state governments to establish a joint regional investment framework to support land acquisition, transport infrastructure, rail connectivity and complementary facilities.
The communiqué further recommended that state governments prioritise energy infrastructure for rural agro-processing zones to enhance agricultural productivity and industrial development.
Participants also advocated the integration of mental health services into primary healthcare systems across the region while promoting greater economic inclusion for persons living with disabilities.
The conference recommended that technical education programmes should leverage existing industries, including the Nnewi Industrial Cluster and small-scale enterprises, as practical training centres for youth entrepreneurship and wealth creation.
It also called on Ministries of Education in the South-East to institutionalize play-based creative pedagogy through teacher training and curriculum reform.
In the area of agriculture, participants encouraged greater adoption of innovative farming techniques, including sack farming, increased use of organic livestock feeds and other indigenous agricultural practices to enhance food security and reduce dependence on genetically modified food products.
Finally, the conference resolved that healthcare systems across the South-East should be repositioned through strategic management reforms aimed at improving service delivery, accessibility and efficiency.
The communiqué was signed by the Secretary-General of the Forum of South-East Academic Doctors (FOSAD), Dr. Uzor Ngoladi, on behalf of the conference.
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