The South East Development Commission (SEDC) and the Enugu State Government have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to commence the implementation of the South East Agro Development Programme.
The development marks the first state-level partnership under the Commission’s regional agricultural transformation agenda.
The agreement, signed yesterday, is expected to unlock agricultural productivity, attract private investment, strengthen food security, and stimulate inclusive economic growth across the South East, while positioning agriculture as a catalyst for industrialization and long-term regional prosperity.
The partnership follows nearly nine months of technical planning, stakeholder consultations, field assessments and intergovernmental collaboration between the Commission and the Enugu State Government.
The signing ceremony brought together senior officials of both parties, including the Executive Director, Projects, SEDC, Hon. Toby Okechukwu; the Executive Director, Natural Resources, Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr. Cliff Ogbede; the Secretary to the Enugu State Government, Prof. Chidiebere Onyia; the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Osinachi Nnajieze Esq; the Head of Legal Services, SEDC, Barr. Nnanna Oketa, as well as traditional rulers, development partners, financial institutions, private sector stakeholders, community leaders, and members of the media.
Representing the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of SEDC, Mr. Mark Okoye, the Executive Director, Projects, Hon. Toby Okechukwu, described the agreement as a significant milestone in translating regional development priorities into concrete action.
According to him, the Commission’s focus was not merely on signing agreements but on delivering measurable improvements in citizens’ lives.
“The true measure of our success will not be today’s signatures, photographs, or announcements. The true measure will be what follows after today: the land prepared, the investments attracted, the jobs created, the communities empowered, and the impact felt by ordinary people.”
Speaking on behalf of the Enugu State Government, the Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Chidiebere Onyia, said the partnership reinforces the state’s commitment to developing agriculture into a commercially viable sector capable of attracting investment, generating employment, and driving sustainable economic growth.
He noted that the initiative aligns with Governor Peter Ndubuisi Mbah’s economic agenda of private sector-led growth, diversification, and inclusive development, adding that the state government would continue to provide the policy, institutional, and regulatory support necessary for the program’s successful implementation.
According to the Commission, the South East Agro Development Program is designed to activate underutilized agricultural assets and establish a framework that supports commercial agriculture through land activation, value-chain development, environmental sustainability, host community participation, and increased private sector investment.
Unlike conventional agricultural intervention programs, the initiative is structured as a regional economic development strategy intended to stimulate agro-industrialization across the South East.
SEDC explained that the program is built on extensive technical work undertaken jointly by its Office of Natural Resources, Agriculture and Rural Development, and the Enugu State Ministry of Agriculture. The preparatory phase included physical mapping, field verification, and land suitability assessments to ensure that implementation is guided by evidence, technical feasibility, and investment readiness.
The Commission also emphasized that sustainable agricultural transformation requires collaboration among governments, development partners, research institutions, universities, agricultural colleges, financial institutions, host communities, and the private sector.
Financial institutions, including the Bank of Industry, are expected to develop financing mechanisms that will improve access to capital for qualified investors and project developers participating in the programme.
Youth empowerment is another key pillar of the initiative. By expanding opportunities across agricultural production, processing, logistics, aggregation and support services, the programme is expected to create employment and entrepreneurship opportunities while strengthening the productive capacity of the region.
The Enugu agreement represents the first phase of what SEDC described as a broader regional implementation strategy. Similar partnerships are expected with the Abia State Government, while technical mapping activities are already underway in Ebonyi State. Ultimately, the Commission plans to extend the initiative across all five South East states to establish an integrated agro-industrial ecosystem capable of supporting increased productivity, regional trade and shared prosperity.
