The National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN), South East Zone, has reaffirmed its confidence in the leadership of the South East Development Commission (SEDC), declaring that the Commission under its Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Mark Okoye, remains a beacon of hope for the region’s development aspirations.
In a statement issued in June 2026 and signed by the NYCN South East Vice President, Atigwe Henry Ifeanyi, the youth body said millions of young people across the five South-East states remain confident in the vision, competence and leadership capacity of Dr. Okoye.
The Council noted that since the establishment of the SEDC, the people of the region had looked forward to concrete interventions aimed at addressing longstanding challenges, including infrastructure deficits, unemployment, economic stagnation and developmental neglect.
According to the group, although the Commission is still a relatively young institution, it has already demonstrated significant commitment towards laying the foundation for sustainable growth and regional transformation.
“The National Youth Council of Nigeria, South East Zone, wishes to reaffirm its unwavering confidence and support for the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the South East Development Commission, Dr. Mark Okoye, whose leadership continues to inspire hope and renewed commitment towards the transformation of the South East region,” the statement read.
The youth organization described the SEDC as one of the most proactive regional intervention agencies in the country, citing its developmental programmes, strategic engagements, capacity-building initiatives, economic empowerment efforts and institutional reforms.
“The South East Development Commission stands today as one of the most proactive regional intervention agencies in the country. Since its inauguration, the Commission has demonstrated a clear commitment to initiating developmental programmes, strategic engagements, capacity-building initiatives, economic empowerment opportunities and institutional frameworks aimed at repositioning the South East for sustainable growth and prosperity,” it stated.
The NYCN further argued that meaningful development requires patience, institutional stability and continuity, stressing that no serious development agency can deliver transformational results overnight.
“As youths of the South East, we recognize that meaningful development is a process that requires vision, planning, consistency and institutional stability. No serious development agency can achieve transformational outcomes overnight,” the Council said.
Defending the leadership of the Commission, the group said Dr. Okoye possesses the professional competence and developmental expertise needed to steer the agency through its formative years.
“Dr. Mark Okoye, a fellow youth, possesses the professional competence, public policy experience, developmental expertise and strategic leadership required to guide the Commission through this critical phase of institution-building,” the statement added.
The youth body urged stakeholders to assess the Commission based on its ongoing programmes, institutional reforms and long-term vision rather than distractions capable of undermining its mandate.
“We therefore urge all well-meaning individuals, groups and stakeholders to evaluate the performance of the Commission based on measurable outcomes, ongoing initiatives, institutional reforms and its long-term developmental vision rather than distractions that may divert attention from its core mandate,” it said.
The Council also expressed appreciation to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for establishing the South East Development Commission and appointing Dr. Okoye to lead the agency.
“We also wish to express our profound appreciation to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his foresight in establishing the South East Development Commission and for the confidence reposed in Dr. Mark Okoye to lead this critical institution,” the statement noted.
The NYCN took a swipe at what it described as attempts to subject the Commission to a “media trial,” alleging that some criticisms directed at the agency were driven by interests unrelated to the welfare of the South-East people.
“We take exception to the media trial of the commission in Abuja without proper oversight function by the Senate, who information available to NYCN indicate that it had some other selfish motive other than the interest of the people of the South East,” the group stated.
Calling for greater regional unity, the Council appealed to South-East governors and other stakeholders to continue supporting the Commission.
“Today, more than ever before, the South East requires unity of purpose,” the statement said. “We call on all the South East Governors to continue their support to the Commission as it is yielding the positive result that it requires.”
The group maintained that the region’s development agenda can only be achieved through collaboration, innovation, entrepreneurship and sustained institutional support.
“The NYCN South East Zone therefore stands firmly with Dr. Mark Okoye and the South East Development Commission as they continue the important task of laying a solid foundation for the future of the region.
“Together, we can build a stronger, more prosperous and more competitive South East,” the statement concluded.
