Most people will ask, Why 2.0? Why launch another wave when the first edition set new benchmarks for what is possible in the South-South,
The answer is simple: progress never stands still. 2.0 means we go further, reach higher, challenge every limit we thought existed, and have strategic conversations that will impact communities, including those who may never step into this venue.
The conversations, collaborations, and commitments born here will echo across the nation.
And on this call, I welcome you all to the second edition of Road to South-South, a flagship platform of the Office of the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Community Engagement (South-South), created to strengthen dialogue, promote inclusion, and build stronger partnerships between government and our people.
Last year, when we convened the first edition of this event, our objective was to create a listening platform, an avenue for the government to hear directly from the communities of the South-South, and to ensure that their voices shape national priorities. We have empowered thousands of local farmers through Project Earn from the Soil, introducing life-changing labor-saving farm machinery recognized by international partners and state governments. The ripple effect touched every sector, from women-led cooperatives to youth innovation and global partnerships.
But for every milestone we reached, new questions emerged: How do we sustain and scale our efforts?
How do we move the South-South beyond oil and gas, towards a smart, diversified, and inclusive economy?
Road to South-South 2.0 is our answer.
It’s about deepening impact, investing in agribusiness, renewable energy, education, and technology transfer. It’s about translating global training into local action, turning international investment into community wealth. It’s about building the South-South into a model of transformation for all of Nigeria.
Today, as we open the Road to South-South 2.0, we come together to celebrate the tangible progress made under the leadership of His Excellency President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, through the Renewed Hope Agenda.
We all seated in this room can agree on one thing: “Regional development is the backbone of national progress. When one region thrives, others rise with it, and together, we build a stronger, bigger, better, and more prosperous Nigeria.”
This edition reflects continuity and impact, a testimony that the South-South is not on the margins of development, but at the center of Nigeria’s transformation story.
Under President Tinubu’s administration, the South-South region has witnessed landmark projects and policy interventions that are changing lives and redefining our economic future.
In infrastructure, the President approved the extension of the Lagos–Calabar Coastal Highway through Edo State, unlocking new opportunities for trade, tourism, and investment along our coastal corridor.
The completion and ongoing rehabilitation of key federal roads, such as the East-West Road, the Benin–Sapele–Warri Highway, and the Eleme–Onne axis, have also eased mobility and boosted commerce.
The list goes on.
This second edition builds on that foundation.
It is a space to assess, align, and advance the gains of the Renewed Hope Agenda across the six states of our region.
It will feature dialogue sessions on policy, investment, and citizen engagement, and spotlight innovative solutions being driven by our young entrepreneurs, women leaders, and traditional institutions.
The South-South has risen beyond the narratives of neglect, rising through innovation, unity, and purposeful leadership. Our mission is to sustain that momentum and to translate government initiatives into measurable impact at the community level.
As we deliberate today, I call on all stakeholders, traditional rulers, political leaders, private sector actors, civil society groups, diplomatic communities, and our youth, to continue partnering with the government in building a prosperous region.
The Renewed Hope Agenda is not a slogan; it is a shared responsibility.
Development can only succeed when communities take ownership of it.
Let this event remind us that the South-South is not only the oil belt of Nigeria, it is the innovation belt, the cultural heart, and the bridge to a prosperous and united nation.
This is the essence of the Renewed Hope Agenda: putting people at the center, empowering communities, and creating sustainable pathways for collective growth.
It is about every Nigerian, every community, every voice that deserves to be heard and represented, including the vibrant people of Yala/Ogoja, Urhobo, Itaka’s, Ijaw, Itsekiri, Efik, Benin’s, Akoko’s, Eshan’s, Ibibio, Isoko, and many others that enrich our South-South heritage.
Conclusively, as we open Road to South-South 2.0, let us celebrate how far we have come, acknowledge the challenges that remain, and commit ourselves to a collective future anchored on dialogue, partnership, and accountability.
I thank you all for your continued support and patriotism, she Concluded
Together, under the visionary leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, we will continue to build a South-South region that works for all, She said.
Meanwhile, Hon Prince Ebitim Amgbare has said, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, has been praised for his innovative in Nigeria Agricultural sector, this Comandation was made by Hon. Prince Ebitim Amgbare the MD/CEO Niger Delta Basin Development Authority during the road to south -South National Dialogue “Award” held at the Presidential Banquet Hall Aso Rock Villa Abuja, the Conference was themed ” National Convergence For Renewed Hope Agenda.
Prince Ebitim emphasized that the future of the Niger Delta region concerning growth and development was vital.
He urged all South -South Governors to align with the Federal government Agricultural framework.
He encouraged Youths to shown violence and other social vices.
Several independent groups like 4ward Tinubu groups were at the events, the DG of the group Peter Ikpen, BOT Chairman 4ward Tinubu Chief Dr. Ojei Sunday Wilson Ebubedike of owa kingdome Delta State was also at the event with the groups members.
A None Governmental Organization Noble Ladies also came to grace the occasion in there beautiful colors, others NGOs includes, Voice-Skill Empowerment Initiative also came to grace the occasion of 2.0 road to south -South.
The Occasion was coloured with the Dein of Agbor, HRH, HRM, Benhamin Ikenchukwu Ikeagboreku 1, the traditional ruler of the Agbor Kingdom Commended the Senior Special Adviser to the President on South -South Hon Gift John bull’s efforts for providing a platform for the South -South People to engage in discussions about the regional development urging Journalist to avoid sensationalism and focus on positve reportage.
