From Kenneth Udeh, Abuja
Following the confirmation of the Governing Board of the South East Development Commission (SEDC) by the Nigerian Senate on Tuesday, the South East Youth Stakeholders Forum has lauded the efforts of the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Ben Kalu.
In a joint statement signed by its Secretary General, Amb. Timothy Nwachukwu, and its Chairman, Mazi (Dr) Ezenwa A. A. Onyirimba, the group congratulated the newly confirmed Executives and members of the board, urging them to live up to the expectations of the South-Easterners.
The Senate, presided over by the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, on Tuesday confirmed Mark Okoye and Professor Abdullahi Shehu Ma’aji as the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the SEDC and NWDC, respectively.
The Senate gave its final nod after the Ad-Hoc Committee on Regional Development Commissions, led by Senator Orji Uzor Kalu (APC, Abia-North), submitted the report of its screening exercise.
Mazi Ezenwa also expressed gratitude to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, acknowledging his unwavering commitment to fostering inclusive national development.
The statement partly read:
“We recognise the strategic importance of the South East Development Commission (SEDC) as a vehicle to address the unique developmental challenges and unlock the immense potential of the South East region.
“We also express our profound gratitude to Rt. Hon. Ben Kalu for his visionary leadership and dedication to ensuring the interests of the South East are effectively represented at the national level. His efforts have been instrumental in paving the way for the actualisation of the South East Development Commission.”
The group charged the new leadership to work towards the progress of the South-Easterners:
“We congratulate the newly inaugurated leadership of the South East Development Commission. Your appointment is a testament to your competence and dedication to the cause of regional transformation.
“We trust in your capacity to drive impactful policies and programmes that will uplift the economic, social, and infrastructural landscape of the South East.
“As stakeholders committed to the progress of our region, we pledge our full support for the commission and call on all South East youths, traditional leaders, and the general populace to rally behind the SEDC. Let us work collectively to ensure the commission achieves its mandate of fostering development, creating opportunities, and promoting unity in the South East.”
Other confirmed nominees are Dr. Emeka Nworgu, who was confirmed as Chairman of the Commission. Others include Rt. Hon. Stanley Ohajuruka (E.D. Finance), Chief Sylvester Okonkwo (E.D. Corporate Services), Hon. Toby Okechukwu (E.D. Projects), Sen. Anthony Agbo (E.D. Commercial and Industrial Development), Dr. Clifford Ogbede (E.D. Natural Resources, Agriculture, and Rural Development), and Barr. Ugochukwu H. Agballah, Hon. Okey Kzenwa, Chief Hyacinth Ikpor, Chidi Echeazu, Barr. Ifeanyi Agwu Ph.D, Nasiru Usman, Hamma Adama Ali Kumo, Edward David Onoja, Orure Kufre Inima, Daniel Akwari, Chief (Mrs) Joke Adebayo-Chukwuma.