Former Senate Minority Whip, Senator Chukwuka Utazi, has called for a shift to intellectual-driven development as a path to faster progress in the South-East.
Speaking at the 2026 Adada Lecture Series at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Utazi said Nigeria must move beyond academic titles and focus on applying knowledge to build institutions, shape policy, and solve real problems. He argued that societies that thrive are those that turn ideas into systems and systems into measurable outcomes like jobs, justice, and stability.
Focusing on the Nsukka Cultural Zone, he said the area has a strong pool of academics but has not fully converted that intellectual capital into tangible development. He called for coordinated action among academics, political leaders, traditional institutions, and the private sector around a shared agenda.
Utazi urged the zone to adopt a clear bargaining framework to secure political relevance, infrastructure, and fair resource allocation, noting its population size gives it leverage. He also warned against internal divisions and urged stakeholders to move past complaints of marginalisation and pursue unity and strategic alliances.
The lecture, organized by the Association of Nsukka Professors, drew over 100 academics, including Anambra Governor Chukwuma Soludo and former presidential adviser Osita Ogbu. Attendees described the address as timely, saying it offered a practical roadmap for using intellectual resources to drive sustainable development in the region.
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