Ben Ezechime, Enugu
Enugu State Government has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Fungtai Engineering Limited for the production of cash crops at Ugwujoro, Nimbo, in Uzo-Uwani Local Government Area.
The state government also signed another MoU with the National Cashew Association of Nigeria (NCAN), for the establishment of a pre-fabricated Domestic Export Warehouse at the Enugu State Polytechnic, Iwollo, siting on five hectares of land.
Speaking at the different MoU signing ceremonies at Government House, Enugu, Governor Peter Mbah described agriculture as a major Gross Domestic Product-enabling sector in his administration’s effort to grow the state’s economy.
He said this was in line with his vision to ramp up agriculture and agro-industrialisation, boost security, and create employment.
Mbah, who was represented by the Secretary to State Government, SSG, Prof. Chidiebere Onyia, said the over 7,000-hectare agricultural initiative at Ugwujoro, Nimbo, ensures active utilisation of the area bordering the state and Kogi that had hitherto suffered attacks.
“We expect that a lot of our GDP growth will come from agriculture; hence, we are aggressive about agriculture and agro-industrialisation.
“As you are also probably aware, Ugwujoro Nimbo is a border area and had been a source of security concern; so, in addition to what we are doing with technology to secure our state, this massive agricultural initiative will effectively occupy that large expanse of land and there will not be any room for any criminal to hibernate or launch an attack.”
Onyia said that the MoU would boost agricultural production and agro-indutrialisation, enhance security, and create employment.
“As a government, we will play our part to ensure that this initiative takes off in earnest and also succeeds because it is a win-win situation for both the state and the investors,” he stated.
Responding, the Managing Director of Fungtai Engineering Ltd, Sir Isaac Chuks, said the firm was eager to launch out, describing Enugu State under the Mbah Administration as an investor’s haven.
“We will make the government and the people of Enugu State proud for believing in us.”
While signing the MoU with NCAN, Onyia described the venture to establish a pre-fabricated domestic export warehouse at the Enugu State Polytechnic, Iwollo, as a strategic move with multiple benefits for the state and the nation.
“We recognise the immense economic potentials of the cashew industry, valued at over $7bn in the global market, and the governor has deemed it necessary to engage in this value-adding relationship.
“We are very mindful of the reputation, the experience that you have, and we want to collaborate as a state to make sure we harness this opportunity in a way that there is value on both sides on the table.
“This collaboration ensures that cashew production is processed locally, enhancing our GDP and creating significant job opportunities.
“With over six local government areas suited for cashew production, we are poised for a transformative journey,” he said.
Speaking, the National President of NCAN, Dr Joseph Ajanaku, assured the state government of a reliable and timely delivery.
He added that the relationship they were building with the state government would optimise the state’s cashew potentials.
Ajanaku further expressed interest to also ultimately help to revitalise the moribund Premier Cashew Industry Limited at Akama Oghe.
“We deemed it fit that we should go about this Domestic Export Warehouse to aggregate what the farmers are producing, encourage farmers to go to farm and produce more, and to make it easy for our processors in the country.
“We believe that this collaboration will help us achieve our goal. We have plans again to go further from this move.
“We thank you for this opportunity and promise that we will not disappoint you.
“We are going to make sure we do what is required of us because of the experience we have in the sector,” Ajanaku said.
