The South East Development Commission (SEDC) has announced plans to revive the agro-industrial revolution that propelled the former Eastern Region to one of the fastest-growing economies in the world between 1954 and 1964.
The commission said it would commence the implementation of three agromechanisation projects in Enugu State, with one project located in each of the three senatorial districts, as part of a broader agricultural development programme across the South-East.
The initiative was disclosed during a community engagement with leaders and stakeholders of Nomeh Unateze in Nkanu East Local Government Area of Enugu State, where the proposed Nomeh Agromechanisation Project was presented to residents.
The Executive Director, Natural Resources, Agriculture and Rural Development (NRARD) of the SEDC, Dr Clifford Ogbede, said the project was designed not only to modernise agriculture but also to create jobs, attract investment and make farming more attractive to young people.
Ogbede, who was represented by his Technical Adviser, Dr Chris Uwadoka, said agriculture was at the heart of the economic transformation recorded in the old Eastern Region under its former Premier, Dr Michael Okpara.
“We could all recall that the Eastern Region economy was at a point rated as the fastest growing economy in the world. That means that we were ahead of many leading economies of today in terms of growth. And at the root of it was agriculture, thanks to the visionary leadership of the former Premier of the region, Dr Michael Okpara,” he said.
He explained that the commission arrived at the decision to focus on agriculture after extensive consultations and brainstorming on how to restore the region’s lost economic strength.
“So, after thorough brainstorming sessions, the SEDC came up with a blueprint to restore the region’s lost glory, starting with agriculture,” he said.
According to him, the project would introduce improved agricultural practices, mechanised farming, better-yielding seeds and technical expertise to local farmers, while creating opportunities for agro-processing and other businesses linked to agriculture.
He said the projects would also provide direct and indirect employment for youths and attract local and foreign investors, including members of the South-East diaspora interested in contributing to the region’s development.
Ogbede commended Governor Peter Mbah for what he described as his proactive approach to agricultural development in Enugu State, saying the governor’s agricultural blueprint had provided a strong foundation for the SEDC initiative.
He disclosed that, apart from Nomeh in Enugu East Senatorial District, similar agromechanisation projects would be established at Elugwu Akwu in Oji River Local Government Area, representing Enugu West Senatorial District, and Nkpologwu in Uzo-Uwani Local Government Area, representing Enugu North Senatorial District.
“Governor Mbah nominated Nomeh for the programme. It is a good thing for this community because SEDC is going to bring the best possible agricultural knowledge into the territory, bring specialists, agro-entrepreneurs, improved seeds with greater yields, and support the local farmers,” he said.
He expressed concern over the growing reluctance of young people in the region to take up agriculture, attributing it to the labour-intensive nature of traditional farming and low returns.
According to him, the proposed project would introduce young people to modern agriculture while creating employment opportunities through agricultural enterprises and value chains.
Ogbede also dismissed speculation that the project was designed to make land available for cattle grazing, describing such claims as false.
“There is absolutely nothing like that. This is an entirely South-East initiative for the benefit of the South-East, then the nation. It is very untrue and not part of the blueprint,” he said.
The Enugu State Liaison Officer to the SEDC, Chief Edeani Edeani, said the Federal Government and the state government were determined to use agriculture as part of efforts to tackle unemployment and insecurity.
“With such massive agromechanisation projects across the South-East, our spaces will be more effectively and gainfully occupied and governed. Also, the youths will be gainfully employed,” he said.
Community welcomes project
A community leader and Senior Special Assistant to Governor Mbah on Media, Uche Anichukwu, thanked President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for establishing the SEDC after several previous attempts to create a regional development commission had failed.
Anichukwu recalled that President Tinubu signed the legal framework establishing the commission on July 24, 2024, giving it a mandate to rebuild infrastructure and provide a coordinated approach to regional development.
He also commended the SEDC Managing Director, Mark Okoye, and his team for making agriculture a major component of the commission’s strategy for economic revival.
“As a community, we are most grateful to the President and Governor Peter Mbah for choosing Nomeh to host the pilot project. We do not take it for granted,” he said.
The traditional ruler of Nomeh Unateze, HRH Igwe Israel Okonkwo Mbah, represented by his traditional prime minister, Chief Daniel Anikpuma, said the project offered the community an opportunity to regain its economic prominence.
He recalled that Nomeh had been a thriving railway and agricultural centre before the Nigerian Civil War, attracting major produce trading companies, including UAC and Leventis.
“It is a sort of bringing back the glory of Nomeh-Unateze, a bustling railway and agricultural town in the past. Before the war, we had UAC, Leventis, and several other produce trading companies here. The war broke out, and everything stopped.
“Today, the SEDC and the Enugu State Government have remembered Nomeh Unateze and come with mechanised farming to reactivate our community. We believe it is going to bring massive development and we embrace it with a grateful heart,” he said.
The town union, through Engr. Uchenna Anyanwu, also expressed support for the project and pledged to put the necessary structures in place to facilitate its implementation and provide security for the project.
Another community leader, Mrs Veronica Onwude, said the initiative had renewed the people’s hope, particularly among women and young people who stand to benefit from employment and other economic opportunities.
The SEDC said the Nomeh project formed part of its broader strategy to reposition agriculture as a driver of economic growth, employment and sustainable development across the South-East.