Background

In 2008, the South-South Governors’ Forum made up of the Governors of Bayelsa, Rivers, Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Edo and Delta States of Nigeria (known as BRACED States), decided to collectively pursue and promote regional, economic co-operation and integration of their six States by working more closely with one another at exploring opportunities for co-operation, integration and growth so as to strengthen the economies of the six States. The Forum felt that this step was imperative if the six States must progressively and collectively achieve this vision and aspiration for the individual and collective benefit of their States as well as that of Nigeria.

To realize their vision, the six Governors agreed to set up a 24-member Committee headed by Prof. Pat Utomi and comprising distinguished technocrats and major economic players from the region. One of the major charges given the Committee was to articulate an agenda for hosting an economic and infrastructural summit as well as fashion out modalities for the sustenance of the initiative of the Governors and the realization of the grand vision.

The Committee which was known as the South-South Economic Summit Committee successfully organized the first South-South Economic Summit at the Tinapa Business Resort, Calabar, in Cross River State from 22nd to 24th April, 2009. The Summit with the theme “Positioning the South-South Nigeria for Global Competitiveness” featured 25 plenary and breakout sessions with 116 Speakers, Panellists and Resource Persons of international repute from within and outside Nigeria. The Summit also drew goodwill from regional, national and international participants, friends and stakeholders including,The President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, His Excellency Umaru Musa Yar’Adua, GCFR, and  the then Vice President, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan. Papers and discussions focused mainly on seven focal sectors namely Governance, Agriculture, Oil and Gas/Solid Minerals, Infrastructure, Manufacturing, Tourism, and Security as well as on Energy and Power, Transportation, Environment, Housing, etc.  At the end, the Summit made concrete recommendations and issued a communiqué.

The South-South Economic Summit Committee followed up the recommendations of the Summit by articulating and presenting to the South-South Governors’ Forum a list of “Quick Wins” and “Low Hanging Fruits” for consideration and possible adoption for immediate harvest towards the attainment of the vision of the Governors’ Forum. One of the “Quick Win” recommendations was the setting up of an institution to be known as the BRACED Commission headed by a Director-General to drive the BRACED Agenda of regional co-operation, integration and growth so as to contribute to the overall progress, prosperity and development of Nigeria. The Governors approved the set up of the BRACED Commission with headquarters in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, during a meeting in Benin in 2010 and also appointed Ambassador Joe C. Keshi as the Director-General of the Commission.