Shaping Enugu 2050: State Government Partners UNDP and OSSAP-SDGs to Launch 25-Year Strategic Development Roadmap

The Ministry of Budget and Planning, Enugu State, in technical partnership with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Office of the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Sustainable Development Goals (OSSAP-SDGs), hosted a pivotal 2-day capacity-building workshop for the Technical Working Committee (TWC) and Budget and Planning Officers across various Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs). Designed to lay the groundwork for a comprehensive 25-year Enugu State Development Plan (SDP), the workshop focused on equipping state officials with technical frameworks, strategic mindsets, and data-driven methodologies required to craft a transformative vision for the state leading up to 2050.

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Setting the tone for the event, the Honourable Commissioner for Budget and Planning, Chief Chris-Roberts Ozongwu, emphasized that a 25-year plan requires looking far beyond annual budgets and short-term programs to define where Enugu State stands today, where it aims to be, and the practical pathways to get there. He highlighted that the overall success of the initiative hinges on the precision of sectoral inputs, robust data analysis, and realistic projections provided by officers across all MDAs. Urging participants to plan around economic opportunities, modern infrastructure, human capital investment, and inclusive growth that leaves no citizen behind, he stressed that the ultimate goal is to produce a living plan backed by clear priorities, measurable targets, realistic financial strategies, and continuity mechanisms that transcend political administrations.

Reinforcing the importance of continuity, Dr. Ozurumba Elechi Afigbo, Special Adviser to the Governor on the Delivery Unit, noted that achieving long-term transformation requires establishing a clear direction and pursuing it persistently without arbitrary shifts in trajectory. He highlighted that because this roadmap is being designed by the people of Enugu State rather than an individual predecessor, it ensures that future leadership transitions do not disrupt ongoing development. Over time, this collective framework will serve as a benchmark for citizens to evaluate future political leaders based on their commitment to sustaining the state’s vision.

Expanding on the transformative mindset needed for long-term planning, Mr. Emmanuel Ekene Nnamani, Executive Chairman of the Enugu State Internal Revenue Service (ESIRS), clarified that a development plan differs fundamentally from a budget by serving as an overarching vision for 2050. He challenged participants to shift their mindsets toward bold, visionary goals such as universal healthcare and zero poverty by strategically optimizing idle land and infrastructure through structured, long-term frameworks to drive economic growth.

To operationalize these strategic goals, State Consultant Professor Vincent Onodugo led technical sessions detailing the foundational preparation process, roadmap development, and results frameworks. He equipped officers with actionable tools to define outputs, outcomes, impacts, KPIs, baselines, and targets across sectors. Building on this operational foundation, UNDP Consultant Mr. Francis Onyilo guided participants through high-level situational assessments, methods for localizing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) within specific sectors, and the practical application of Integrated SDG (iSDG) modeling to inform data-driven strategy design.

A major feature of the workshop was the practical engagement through Syndicate Work 1 and 2, alongside a focused session on the strategic framework. During these interactive exercises, participants actively collaborated to brainstorm, debate, and delineate the state’s overarching mission, vision, and core values establishing the foundational principles needed to guide Enugu State’s growth and development over the next quarter-century.

The workshop concluded with closing remarks from Chief Chris-Roberts Ozongwu and the Permanent Secretary, Mrs. Clara Nwakaego Eze, who commended the participants, facilitators, and partners for their active engagement. By sharpening the analytical and strategic capabilities of key state officers, Enugu State has taken a decisive step toward establishing a resilient, sustainable, and inclusive roadmap for its future.