The South East Development Commission (SEDC) has announced a major regional initiative aimed at reviving the historic agro-industrial transformation that established the defunct Eastern Region as the world’s fastest-growing economy between 1954 and 1964.
​The announcement was made during a community stakeholders’ engagement on Thursday, August 27, 2026, at the Civic Center in Nomeh, Nkanu East Local Government Area of Enugu State.
​Speaking on behalf of the Commission, Dr. Clifford Ogbede represented at the event by his Technical Adviser, Dr. Chris Uwadoka, revealed that the SEDC is launching 15 key agromechanisation projects distributed across all 15 senatorial districts in the five South-East states; Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu, and Imo.
The rollout begins in Enugu State, where three designated project sites have been selected in collaboration with the state government: Enugu East Senatorial District: Nomeh (Nkanu East LGA), Enugu West Senatorial District: Elugwu Akwu, Oji River LGA and Enugu North Senatorial District: Nkpologwu, Uzo-Uwani LGA.
​Dr. Ogbede highlighted that the framework draws inspiration from the agricultural blueprint of Dr. Michael Okpara, former Premier of the Eastern Region. “At the root of the historic growth recorded in the 1950s and 60s was agriculture,” Ogbede stated.
“After extensive consultations led by SEDC Managing Director Mark Okoye, we have designed a modern blueprint to reactivate uncultivated land, integrate greenhouse technologies, deploy advanced farm machinery, and generate over 50,000 direct jobs across the region.”
​He reassured local residents and landowners, strongly dismissing rumors that the land acquisition was intended for cattle grazing corridors. He clarified that the initiative is exclusively owned and operated within the South East to boost local food security and secure previously unmanaged agricultural spaces.
​Reacting on behalf of the host community, the Traditional Ruler of Nomeh Unateze, HRH Igwe Israel Okonkwo Mbah, represented by Traditional Prime Minister Chief Daniel Anikpuma, welcomed the intervention.
He noted that the project would restore Nomeh’s pre-civil war reputation as a thriving agricultural and rail hub, which previously hosted major commercial firms like UAC and Leventis.
​The SEDC plans to expand the implementation across Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, and Imo states in subsequent phases, targeting a minimum of 10,000 hectares of processed farmland per state.
