By Gloria Ikibah
The South East Development Commission (SEDC) and the Enugu State Government have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to launch the South East Agro Development Programme, marking the Commission’s first state-level implementation partnership aimed at transforming agriculture into a major engine of economic growth across the region.
The agreement, signed in Enugu on Thursday, after about nine months of technical planning, stakeholder consultations, field assessments and collaboration between both parties. 
The initiative is expected to boost agricultural productivity, attract private investment, strengthen food security and stimulate inclusive economic development throughout the South-East.
The signing ceremony brought together senior officials of the Enugu State Government and the Commission, including the Executive Director, Projects, SEDC, Hon. Toby Okechukwu; Executive Director, Natural Resources, Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr Cliff Ogbede; Secretary to the Enugu State Government, Prof. Chidiebere Onyia; Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Osinachi Nnajieze; Head of Legal Services at SEDC, Barr. Nnanna Oketa, as well as traditional rulers, development partners, financial institutions, private sector representatives, community leaders and members of the media.
The Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of SEDC, Mark Okoye, was represented by Hon. Toby Okechukwu, he described the agreement as a major step in translating the Commission’s regional development vision into practical action.
According to him, the success of the programme will not be measured by the signing ceremony itself but by the tangible benefits it delivers to communities.
He said: “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 making agriculture a commercially viable sector capable of creating jobs and attracting large-scale investment.
He said that the programme aligns with Governor Peter Mbah’s economic agenda, which prioritises private sector-led growth, economic diversification and inclusive development.
Onyia also reaffirmed the state’s readiness to provide the policy, institutional and regulatory support needed for the successful implementation of the initiative while ensuring host communities benefit directly from the programme.
The South East Agro Development Programme is designed to unlock dormant agricultural assets across the region and position agriculture as a catalyst for industrialisation and long-term economic transformation.
Rather than focusing solely on farming, the initiative seeks to establish an enabling environment for commercial agriculture by facilitating land development, strengthening agricultural value chains, integrating host communities, promoting environmentally sustainable practices and attracting private sector investment.
The programme is built on extensive technical studies jointly undertaken by the Commission, through its Department of Natural Resources, Agriculture and Rural Development, and the Enugu State Ministry of Agriculture. The exercise included land mapping, physical verification and suitability assessments to ensure that implementation is guided by technical evidence and investment readiness.
Recognising that sustainable agricultural development requires broad collaboration, the initiative also brings together development partners, financial institutions, research institutes, universities, Colleges of Agriculture, host communities and private investors.
Financial institutions, including the Bank of Industry, are expected to help create financing mechanisms that will improve access to capital for qualified investors and project developers.
Youth empowerment forms a key pillar of the programme, with plans to expand opportunities in farming, food processing, logistics, aggregation and agricultural support services. The initiative is expected to generate employment while strengthening the productive capacity of the South-East.
The Commission said the programme would be implemented as a regional project, with Enugu becoming the first participating state.
Following the signing of the Enugu agreement, SEDC disclosed that it would move to conclude a similar partnership with the Abia State Government, while technical mapping activities are already underway in Ebonyi State.
The Commission plans to extend the programme across all five South-East states to create an integrated agro-industrial ecosystem capable of boosting productivity, expanding regional trade and driving shared prosperity.
Established under the South East Development Commission Act, 2024, the SEDC is mandated to spearhead the reconstruction, rehabilitation, integration and sustainable economic development of the region.
The South East Agro Development Programme is one of its flagship initiatives aimed at unlocking the region’s agricultural potential through strategic partnerships, coordinated planning and increased private sector participation.
Both the Commission and the Enugu State Government reaffirmed their commitment to implementing the programme through collaboration, transparency, community participation and measurable outcomes, expressing confidence that the partnership would serve as a blueprint for similar initiatives across the South-East.
