By Mercy Gadia Adi
The Managing Director of the Southeast Development Commission (SEDC), Mr. Mark Okoye, on Thursday, highlighted the Commission’s efforts to deliver inclusive and impactful development in the Southeast region.
Speaking to journalists, shortly after a meeting with the Senate Committee on the Southeast Development Commission at the National Assembly in Abuja, Okoye explained that the Commission has spent its first 150 days in office developing a comprehensive plan that reflects the yearnings of the people and aligns with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
“We’ve been in office for about 150 days and in that time we’ve tried to do quite a number of things. Developing a plan, ensuring that that plan reflects the yearnings of the people from the Southeast. Also ensuring that the plan is aligned to the Renewed Hope agenda manifesto of Mr. President,” Okoye said.
Okoye explained that the Commission has engaged with numerous stakeholders, including private sector organizations, state governments, local governments, academia, and civil society organizations. Okoye noted that the SEDC has also hosted sessions with international development agencies operating in Nigeria to familiarize them with the Commission’s strategic plan and identify collaborative opportunities.
When asked about funding concerns, Okoye clarified that there are no challenges, stating that the 2025 budget implementation is designed to commence around mid-year. “There’s no challenge there. It was very clear that when the budget was passed at the start of the year, the implementation of the 2025 was to commence around now,” he said.
Okoye emphasized that effective governance is not solely dependent on funding but on robust planning, stakeholder buy-in, and institutional strength. “The role of government is not always determined by funding. What people see that funding does are projects and programmes. But the process of putting together a clear plan, putting together a policy, ensuring that you’ve got the stakeholders to buy into that plan, this is ultimately the most important part that determines the success of the organisation,” he explained.
He noted that SEDC is confident that they have put together a plan that addresses the needs and expectations of the Southeast people. Okoye assured that the Commission is now fully positioned to begin implementing projects that will address key developmental needs in the region. “We’re very confident that we’ve been able to put together a plan that addresses that. So I’m sure very soon people will start to see some of our work,” he said.