Enugu State has sealed a landmark N100 billion joint venture agreement with Songhai Sustainable Initiative in Nigeria and Tribu Limited to rehabilitate and transform the long-abandoned Heneke Integrated Farm into a world-class agro-industrial hub.
The deal, signed on Tuesday at Government House, Enugu, establishes Enugu Tribu Songhai Farms Ltd, a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) that will manage the revitalisation, expansion, and operations of the 10,000-hectare project in Ezeagu Local Government Area.
Governor Peter Mbah, represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Chidiebere Onyia, described the agreement as a pivotal moment in Enugu’s agenda to industrialise agriculture and reposition the state as a hub of food security and economic growth. “Today, we formalize a partnership that will breathe new life into the Enugu Songhai Initiative, transform abandoned assets into thriving agro-industrial hubs, and advance food security, regenerative development, and inclusive growth for Ndi Enugu,” he said.
The farm, first established in 2013 but left incomplete, will now be developed into a multi-sectoral agro-industrial ecosystem featuring crop production, animal husbandry, aquaculture, processing plants, renewable energy systems, and eco-tourism facilities. The project will rehabilitate 10,000 hectares with secured land titles, establish a 25-hectare training and incubation centre for youth and women, and create thousands of jobs across agriculture, processing, and export value chains, while driving sustainable farming practices.
Governor Mbah emphasised that the partnership is anchored on a strong governance framework to ensure transparency, compliance with laws, and protection of state interests. Commissioner for Agriculture and Agro-Industrialisation, Hon. Patrick Ubru, described the initiative as both sustainable and transformative, adding, “We have the land, water, good soil, and the right people. This initiative will create thousands of jobs, boost food production, and change the mindset of our people towards agriculture. It is going to be an integrated system — crop, livestock, aquaculture, processing, export, and ecotourism — driven by the community, private sector, and government.”
With an expected injection of N100 billion in capital and expertise, the commissioner said the project would position Enugu State as Nigeria’s food production powerhouse, achieve self-sufficiency, and attract foreign investments. Director of Songhai Sustainable Initiative, Prof. Godfrey Nzamujo, pledged the organisation’s technical capacity and expertise, stating, “We are committed to producing more and better with less. This is about integrated farming that combines crops, livestock, aquatics, renewable energy, and human capital development. All of us must stay committed to succeed.” He urged young people to embrace agriculture and seize the opportunities the initiative offers.
Project financier and CEO of Tribu Limited, Ozor Silas Nnamdi, said the farm would transform agriculture while also becoming a model resort for eco- and agro-tourism. “We are going to build one of the best Songhai resorts in Africa. It is a shame that Nigeria still imports what it eats. This project is proof that we can change that narrative,” he declared.
