₦airaland Forum

The South East Development Commission, SEDC, says it is set to re-ignite the agro-industrial revolution that made the defunct Eastern Region the fastest-growing economy in the world between 1954 and 1964.

The Commission said it was embarking on three agro-mechanisation projects, one in each of the three senatorial zones of Enugu, Abia, Imo, Anambra, and Ebonyi States, in partnership with the state governments, starting with Enugu.

The Commission gave the assurances at Nomeh, Nkanu East Local Government Area of Enugu State, during a community engagement with leaders and stakeholders of the community on the proposed Nomeh Agro-mechanisation Project.

In his detailed presentation, the Executive Director, Natural Resources, Agriculture, and Rural Development (NRARD) at the SEDC, Dr. Clifford Ogbede, said the project would also create numerous direct and indirect job and business opportunities, making agriculture attractive to the youths again.

Dr. Ogbede, who was represented by a Technical Adviser at the Commission, Dr. Chris Uwadoka, explained that the projects would also attract local and foreign investors, giving Ndigbo in the diaspora the opportunity to be part of rebuilding the South East.

“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.

“So, after thorough brainstorming sessions, the SEDC came up with a blueprint to restore the region’s lost glory, starting with agriculture,” he said.

Commending Governor Mbah for his proactiveness in laying out a robust and elaborate agricultural blueprint for Enugu State, he said the Agro-mechanisation Project would also be cited at Elugwu Akwu, Oji River LGA, in Enugu West Senatorial District, and Nkpologwu, Uzo Uwani LGA, in Enugu North Senatorial District, to the benefit of the host communities and South East.

“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.

“So, it is a good thing that has come to the Nomeh community. It's something to be cheered, cheerful about.

“Also, there's something happening amongst youth, especially in the South East. They are averse to agriculture. They are walking away from agriculture that their parents depended on because it is back-breaking.

“The labour is much, but the yield is little and you hardly have enterprises, companies that are running on the back of agricultural produce.

“Therefore, this project is going to attract agricultural enterprises that will give employment to the youth, and give them knowledge. They will see how it is done. They will earn a living for themselves,” he added.

He strongly dismissed the notion that the Agro-mechanisation Project was a ploy to grab grazing lands for cattle herders.

“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 concluded.

In his remarks, the Enugu State Liaison Officer to the Commission, Chief Edeani Edeani, said the Federal Government and Governor Peter Mbah were determined to use agriculture to fight 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 stated.

Speaking, a community leader and Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Media, Uche Anichukwu, thanked President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for establishing the SEDC after many failed attempts by Ndigbo under previous administrations.

“I worked at the national parliament for several years, and I am very much aware of the many attempts to set up a commission without success. It was either the bill did not scale through the parliament or it was denied presidential assent. But on 24th July 2024, President Tinubu graciously signed into law the legal framework creating the SEDC to rebuild infrastructure and serve as a platform for a coordinated regional development,” he said.

He lauded the SEDC Managing Director, Mark Okoye, and his team for launching out with agriculture as a pivot for the economic revival and growth of the region, noting that they had brought “a totally fresh approach to running regional development commissions.”

“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.”

On his part, the traditional ruler of Nomeh Unateze, HRH Igwe Israel Okonkwo Mbah, who was represented by the traditional prime minister, Chief Daniel Anikpuma, said the Nomeh Unateze Agro-mechanisation Project would bring back the pre-civil war glory of the community.

“It is a sort of bringing back the glory of Nwomeh-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 stated.

Likewise, the town union government of the community, speaking through Engr. Uchenna Anyanwu, has thrown its weight behind the project, saying that necessary machinery would be put in place to ensure the smooth execution and security of the project

Mrexcell:
Why was uche anichikwu the sycophant thanking tinibu for approving development commission that other regions in nigeria has already gotten? There's absolutely no way the south east would have been left behind.

Nword22:
I Don't like the selective idea, if you want to follow opkara footsteps south south must be included to include all former Eastern region and places Igbos are indigenous.

We must carry our brothers along..using south south and south south for different trajectory won't help us.

God bless Eastern region.

georgeakins:
During the era of regional government, SE was the the most backward.

dgitrader:
Everyone knows the guy is a scam, and the agency is just a tool to launder funds.

After two years with nothing to show, now he is "set to launch" what is statutory duty of states and LGAs. Such a failure of ideas

TheStoriesOfMan:
It is one thing to talk and it is another thing to talk without thinking.

There are youths doing massive agricultural revolution in the SE, but you won't see this governors lending a helping hand.

There are farms,massive farms rearing domestic animals and indigenous crop products. These youths are doing great for themselves, but will the government support them? No

The SEDC is a scam just like their NDDC counterpart in the SS.

Until the government stop deceiving themselves and put in the effort and support,we will keep going in circles.

TheStoriesOfMan:
It is one thing to talk and it is another thing to talk without thinking.

There are youths doing massive agricultural revolution in the SE, but you won't see this governors lending a helping hand.

There are farms,massive farms rearing domestic animals and indigenous crop products. These youths are doing great for themselves, but will the government support them? No

The SEDC is a scam just like their NDDC counterpart in the SS.

Until the government stop deceiving themselves and put in the effort and support,we will keep going in circles.

AguluLiar:
The development Commissions are performing well in other regions aside South East due to ineptitude of your leaders.

Instead for you to blame your blllodas who are mismanaging the commission , you're are blaming the FG.
Chai.

TheStoriesOfMan:
The "bllodas" in the commission, who appoints them? Do you think they do elections there? Majority are appointments from orders above.

Akpabio who once worked in the NDDC, who put him there? Isn't it by appointment by one big oga from FG?

Like it or not, the FG will always put their boys whom they can control there in various regional development commissions.

AguluLiar:
The people running SEDC are your fellow blllodas.
If they don't have the interest of your people at hearts, it's none of our business.

It was the same way they mismanaged Eastern region.

georgeakins:
When will you people get tired of attaching yourselves to South South??

I tire for our blodas

dgitrader:
Everyone knows the guy is a scam, and the agency is just a tool to launder funds.

After two years with nothing to show, now he is "set to launch" what is statutory duty of states and LGAs. Such a failure of ideas

TheStoriesOfMan:
The ones oga dey appoint from above, do they have the interest of the people at heart?

Akpabio that headed the NDDC,did they manage funds properly?

That's the same thing we are saying here. Till regional development commissions are allowed to appoint competent people to manage it, we will keep going in circles.

If the head is not good,how will other organs function properly?

This is not an Eastern Region matter. It is everywhere. The malfescance is everywhere. The rot and corruption is everywhere.

Mrexcell:
Why was uche anichikwu the sycophant thanking tinibu for approving development commission that other regions in nigeria has already gotten? There's absolutely no way the south east would have been left behind.