NSCCIMA Requests a N1 billion Trust Fund to Boost Growth in the Nsukka Economic Zone

Emmanuel Ugwu‑Nwogo in Enugu

The Nsukka Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines, and Agriculture (NSCCIMA) has announced a proposal to create a N1 billion Enterprise Development Programme Fund (EDPF) aimed at boosting economic activity in the Nsukka Economic Zone of Enugu State.

NSCCIMA President Sam Otoboeze made the announcement during his speech at the statewide town‑hall and stakeholder engagement session of the Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council (PEBEC) held in Enugu.

He described the Nsukka Economic Zone as “one of the commercially viable and strategically positioned growth corridors in Nigeria,” and stressed the need for a “catalytic intervention” to unlock the area’s large economic potential.

“With the intellectual advantage of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, extensive agricultural resources and a vibrant local population, Nsukka possesses enormous potential for agro‑industrialisation, SME expansion, food processing, innovation‑driven enterprises, and export‑oriented production,” he said.

According to Otoboeze, the proposed fund—managed by NSCCIMA—would support SMEs, youth entrepreneurship, women‑led enterprises, agro‑processing cooperatives, and enterprise incubation initiatives within the zone. He added that a conservative projection indicates the fund could assist between 1,200 and 1,500 SMEs and small traders, and empower more than 1,000 youth and women enterprises in its first 12 months.

During the same period, the fund is expected to generate between 2,500 and 3,500 direct jobs, create 7,000 to 10,000 indirect economic opportunities, strengthen agro‑processing and rural production value chains, and enhance youth economic engagement and community stability.

Otoboeze praised Governor Peter Mbah for the deliberate policy initiatives of his administration, which have improved Enugu State’s investment climate and “laid the foundation for inclusive economic growth and long‑term enterprise sustainability across the state.”