The South East Development Commission (SEDC) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Government of Enugu State to commence the implementation of the South East Agro Development Programme, a regional initiative aimed at boosting agricultural productivity, attracting private investment, strengthening food security, and accelerating inclusive economic growth across the South East.
The agreement follows nearly nine months of technical planning, stakeholder engagement, field assessments, and intergovernmental collaboration between the Commission and the Enugu State Government.
The signing ceremony was attended by senior officials of the Enugu State Government and the South East Development Commission.
The Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of SEDC, Mr. Mark Okoye, represented by the Executive Director, Projects, Mr. Toby Okechukwu, described the agreement as a key milestone in translating regional development priorities into coordinated action.
He said the Commission’s focus goes beyond signing agreements to the delivery of measurable outcomes.
“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,” he said.
Okoye noted that the Commission plans to expand the programme across all five South East states, creating an integrated agro-industrial ecosystem to support productivity, regional trade and shared prosperity.
Established under the South East Development Commission Act 2024, SEDC is mandated to drive the reconstruction, rehabilitation, integration and sustainable economic development of the South East.
He said the South East Agro Development Programme represents one of the Commission’s flagship interventions designed to unlock the region’s comparative advantages through strategic partnerships, private sector participation and coordinated regional planning.
Speaking on behalf of the Enugu State Government, the Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Chidiebere Onyia, described the partnership as a significant step in positioning agriculture as a commercially viable sector capable of attracting investment, creating jobs and driving sustainable growth.
He said the programme aligns with the administration of Governor Peter Mbah’s vision of private sector-led growth, economic diversification and inclusive development.
He reaffirmed the state government’s commitment to providing the enabling policy, institutional and regulatory environment required for successful implementation, while ensuring host communities benefit directly from the programme.
The initiative is based on extensive technical work jointly undertaken by SEDC, through its Office of Natural Resources, Agriculture and Rural Development, and the Enugu State Ministry of Agriculture, including land mapping, field verification and suitability assessments to ensure evidence-based implementation and investment readiness.
The programme also provides for participation by development partners, financial institutions, research institutions, universities, colleges of agriculture, host communities and the private sector to ensure sustainable agricultural transformation.
