South East Development Commission boss, Okoye harps on partnership to accelerate development

In a bid to accelerate the South-East region’s development, Chairman of the South East Development Commission (SEDC), Mr. Mark Okoye, on Wednesday engaged in high-level discussions and strategic collaborations aimed at enhancing institutional capacity and infrastructure delivery.

Earlier in the day, Okoye hosted a delegation from the North Central Development Commission (NCDC) at his office in Abuja.

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The visiting team was led by Dr. Cyril Tsenyil, the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the NCDC, and Princess Atika Ajana, the Executive Director for Projects.

During the courtesy visit, Okoye and his North Central counterparts held an in-depth exchange of ideas on institutional readiness, development planning, and the unique challenges facing newly established regional commissions

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The visit, centered on collaboration between Nigeria’s newly inaugurated regional development commissions, focused on knowledge sharing, joint planning, and setting institutional foundations for sustainable growth.

“I had the pleasure of hosting my colleagues from the North Central Development Commission, Dr Cyril Tsenyil and Princess Atika Ajana, who stopped by to share ideas as we both prepare to steer our new Commissions,” Okoye said in a statement shared via his official channels.

“It was a productive conversation about building strong foundations, designing well thought-out development plans, and learning from each other’s experiences,” he added.

Expressing solidarity with the NCDC team as they navigate the confirmation process at the National Assembly, Okoye emphasised the importance of inter-commission collaboration to drive impactful development in Nigeria’s geo-political regions.

“I wish my colleagues the very best as they go through their screening and confirmation process. I look forward to working closely with NCDC to deliver meaningful development to Nigerians across our regions,” he concluded.

In a separate engagement attended by Nigeria’s Vice President Kashim Shettima , the SEDC Boss participated in a critical workshop hosted by the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission (ICRC) on the evolving Public-Private Partnerships (PPP) regulatory framework in Nigeria.

The workshop, held in Abuja, brought together federal policymakers, critical infrastructure stakeholders, and development experts to evaluate and align on PPP strategies that support the national infrastructure development agenda.

Okoye commended the Director-General of the ICRC, Dr. Jobson Oseodion Ewalefoh, for organizing a timely and strategic gathering.

“I congratulate Dr. Ewalefoh on a well-organized and timely event,” Okoye said. “Coming shortly after my recent visit to his office, it further deepened my understanding of President Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s commitment to enabling PPPs as a key driver of infrastructure development.”

He also highlighted the central role PPPs will play in the South East Development Commission’s agenda.

“For us at the South-East Development Commission, where PPPs are central to our strategy for accelerating growth in the South East, this was a valuable opportunity to learn, connect, and collaborate with key stakeholders,” Okoye affirmed.

Mark Okoye’s dual engagements underscore a focused drive to position the SEDC for success through inter-regional partnerships and forward-looking financing models that can unlock long-term progress for the people of the South-East.

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