Mark Okoye, managing director and chief executive officer of the South-East Development Commission (SEDC), has called on youths in the region to appreciate and have confidence in the government and hold their elected representatives accountable.

Mr Okoye made the call during a reception organised in his honour by youth organisations in Anambra on Friday.

Some of the youth groups are Ohanaeze Ndigbo Youth Wing, National Youth Council of Nigeria, Not Too Young to Run, National Union of Anambra State Students and Political Support Groups.

Mr Okoye said it had been observed that years of neglect and unmet expectations had created the attitude of indifference among them. He regretted that ignorance was also a worrisome factor for their non-participation in governance.

The MD said the South-East youths must see themselves as bona fide components of the Nigerian construct and go for their rights with boldness and full citizenship rights.

He described President Bola Tinubu’s administration as youth-friendly, with a good number of people under 40 heading ministries, departments, and agencies.

Mr Okoye urged them to embrace the federal government’s policies and programmes by filling their quota in opportunities such as NELFUND loan for undergraduates, business support fund, recruitment in army, police and other opportunities.

“South-East has the lowest application for NELFUND, we are the lowest in application for the Nigeria Police and army, there are various federal government initiatives to support businesses, but we are not accessing it.

“Youths have a great future in President Tinubu’s administration, who would have believed that this job would have gone to a youth? Let us appreciate and support this government,” he said.

Mr Okoye said the South-East owed President Bola Tinubu a debt of gratitude for creating the SEDC within one year in office, whereas six military administrations and five presidents failed to do it in 54 years.

He said SEDC was a platform for investing in infrastructure in the region. He added that the commission would work with the five governors to make the South-East the most preferred investment destination in Nigeria.

The SEDC boss said the vision was to develop the South-East not just for the people of the region but for the entire country.  

He said the SEDC had robust programmes for young people and would work with youths across South-East states, and give them a platform for greater opportunities.

“We shall invest in mechanised farming, infrastructure that would open up industrial parks, create technology hubs in universities and support our youths to take part in the sports sector,  which is about a $700 billion economy.

In his welcome address, Tochukwu Obiadi, a youth leader, pledged the commitment of Anambra youths to work with the commission to achieve its development objectives.

(NAN)