South East Development Commission (SEDC) has said it is set to bring back the agro-industrial revolution era that made the defunct Eastern Region the fastest growing economy in the world between 1954 and 1964.
To realise the objective, the commission said it was embarking on 15 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 revealed the intention 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, Executive Director, Natural Resources, Agriculture, and Rural Development (NRARD) at SEDC, Dr. Clifford Ogbede, said the project would also provide numerous direct and indirect jobs and business opportunities, making agriculture attractive to the youth again
Ogbede, who was represented by his Technical Adviser at the commission, Dr. Chris Uwadoka, explained that the projects would also attract local and foreign investors, giving Ndigbo in diaspora the opportunity to be part of the rebuilding of the South-east.
Ogbede recalled the prominent role that agriculture played in the defunct Eastern Region under the leadership of its late Premier, Dr. Michael Okpara, when the region was “at a point rated as the fastest growing economy in the world”.
he said, “That means that we were ahead of many leading economies of today in term of growth. And at the root of it was agriculture.”
Ogbede added, “So, after thorough brainstorming sessions, the SEDC came up with a blueprint to restore the region’s lost glory, starting with agriculture.”
He commended Governor Peter Mbah of Enugu State for his proactiveness in laying out a robust and elaborate agricultural blueprint for the state.
Ogbede said in addition to Nomeh, the agro-mechanisation projects would also be cited at Elugwu Akwu, Oji River Local Government Area in Enugu West Senatorial District, and Nkpologwu, Uzo Uwani Local Government Area in Enugu North Senatorial District to the benefit of the host communities and the South-east.
He stated, “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 cheerful about.”
The executive director, NRARD, stated with regrets the aversion of youths to agriculture, especially in the South-east zone, hence the need to rekindle their interest.
“They are averse to agriculture. They are walking away from agriculture that their parents depended on because it is back-breaking,” he lamented.
Ogbede said SEDC was going to change the old narrative about agriculture, which is perceived to be labour intensive, with low yield that can hardly support enterprises, companies that are running on the back of agricultural produce.
According to him, the agro-mechanisation 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 dismissed the insinuation that the agro-mechanisation project was a ploy to grab grazing lands for cattle herders.
“There is absolutely nothing like that,” Ogbede said, adding, “It is very untrue and not part of the blueprint.”
He insisted that the project “is an entirely South-east initiative for the benefit of the South-east, then the nation”.
In his remarks, Enugu State Liaison Officer to SEDC, Chief Edeani Edeani, said the federal government and Mbah were determined to use agriculture to fight insecurity.
Edeani said, “With such massive agro-mechenisation projects across the South-east, our spaces will be more effectively and gainfully occupied and governed. Also, the youths will be gainfully employed.”
A community leader and Senior Special Assistant to Enugu Governor on Media, Uche Anichukwu, expressed gratitude to President Bola Tinubu for establishing SEDC.
Anichukwu stated that Mr. President made it a reality after many failed attempts by Ndigbo to have a development commission under previous administrations.
he stated, “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.”
Anichukwu lauded SEDC’s Managing Director, Mark Okoye, and his team for launching out with agriculture as a pivot for the economic revival and growth of the region, stating that they have brought “a totally fresh approach to running regional development commissions”.
he said, “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,.”
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.
He said, “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 NomehUnateze 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.”
The town union leadership of the community, speaking through Engr. Uchenna Anyanwu, threw its weight behind the project, giving firm assurance that necessary machinery would be put in place to ensure the smooth implementation and security of the project.
Another community leader, Mrs. Veronica Onwude, said the project had given the people more hope, as women, their husbands and youths of Nomehcommunity would be more gainfully employed.
Emmanuel Ugwu-Nwogo
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