The South East Development Commission (SEDC) has disclosed plans to unveil a roadmap for development of the agricultural sector in the region.
The Executive Director of Agriculture, Natural Resources and Rural Development, Dr Clifford Ogbede, disclosed this at a reception held in his honour following the inauguration of the governing board of the SEDC by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu at the Presidential Villa.
While mentioning that Nigerians are familiar with the myriads of challenges facing the region, including insecurity, environmental issues, high unemployment rate, among others, he pointed out that the region has great potential.
He said with the Federal Government’s intervention, the commission will make the region a prosperous one.
Ogbede emphasised that it’s the first time that the Southeast is having federal attention, even though they have been clamoring for reintegration since after the civil war, about 54 years ago, and President Tinubu found it worthy to encourage the establishment of the Southeast Development Commission.
He said, “It’s like a celebration of a century. The Igbos are very happy with the commission, and it will help to tackle the challenges we have. Ecological challenges, infrastructural challenges, human capital development in the region.
“And of course, we all know, it’s in the history book, that the Southeast, before the war, was the fastest growing economy in the world. And so we had a roadmap on how that region should have been developed, but for 54 years it has been truncated. So this is an opportunity for us to develop the region, and we thank President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for making this history a reality.”
On his plans to reduce unemployment rate in the region, Ogbede said the Act establishing the commission is clear on that, more so, Tinubu has given them the mandate to follow the act strictly, saying if this is done the economy of the region will be revolutionised, there will be employment,, mass influx of people, industrialization, and an improve in infrastructure.
The ED said, “just watch and see and give us some time. We have already what we call a quick win. We have a mid-term approach, and we are going to have a long-term approach. But I believe in the next one, two years, the story will be different.”
The Managing Director of the commission, Mark Okoye, assured that the SEDC would work closely with state governments, private investors, and stakeholders to implement initiatives, aligned with President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
Outlining the commission’s immediate focus, Okoye outlined a five-point plan that includes agriculture, industrial park development, mass housing, sport infrastructure and technology-driven development.
