The Managing Director and CEO of the South East Development Commission (SEDC), Mr. Mark Okoye, has reaffirmed the commission’s dedication to driving economic growth and infrastructure development in the South East region.
In his inaugural address, Okoye expressed gratitude to President Bola Tinubu for the opportunity to serve, commended the 10th National Assembly for passing the South East Development Commission Bill, and praised the Senate Committee on Regional Commissions for their role in confirming the board.
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The SEDC is now set to tackle infrastructure challenges, focusing on rebuilding critical infrastructure damaged during the Nigerian Civil War and addressing broader regional development issues.
Okoye highlighted the region’s struggles, such as active erosion sites, high unemployment, and a challenging investment climate, but expressed determination to foster growth.
Okoye set an ambitious goal to grow the South East economy to $200bn by 2035, in line with President Tinubu’s vision of a $1tn national GDP.
He outlined the commission’s immediate strategy to work with state governments, the private sector, academia, traditional leaders, and civil society to ensure inclusive and sustainable development.
Emphasising the importance of action, Okoye promised that every project will be aligned to a clear roadmap with measurable impact, and the SEDC will launch several initiatives in the coming months, including an interactive website to encourage public engagement.
