User:Mark Chukwuemeka Okoye

Mark Chukwuemeka Okoye (Mark Okoye II) is a public service official and state cabinet member in Anambra State, South East Nigeria who has been Commissioner for Economic Planning, Budget and Development Partners under the administration of Governor Willie Obiano since March 2016 and was Senior Special Assistant on Investments to former Governor Peter Obi. In that year, Okoye made history when he was appointed Nigeria’s youngest commissioner since onset of the Fourth Republic in 1999.

PERSONAL LIFE AND EDUCATION

Okoye was born on 15 June 1986 in Lagos, Nigeria. His father Mark Okoye I was appointed Nigeria’s Minister of State for the Federal Capital Territory in February 1982 under the regime of Shehu Shagari GCFR (being the youngest minister in Shagari's government). Formerly, he was elected to the House of Representatives in 1979 at the age of 28. Okoye's mother is a former Nigerian bank executive director. Okoye is happily married to Philippe Mark-Okoye. The couple both have one son, born in March 2017.

He was educated at Atlantic Hall School from 1997 to 2003. Between 2005 and 2007, he attended the prestigious George Washington University, USA bagging a degree in Finance. He has since attended numerous executive education programs at the Harvard Kennedy School, and a host of other academic institutions across the world.

POLITICAL CAREER

Okoye has distinguished himself in Nigeria’s public sector over the past 6+ years, actively serving his state in various capacities in two successive administrations. He was previously a senior associate at Afrinvest Limited, a leading independent investment banking firm with a focus on West Africa. During this time, he worked as the managing director’s principal assistant in analyzing, preparing and reviewing various corporate reorganization, debt restructuring and capital raising scenarios which were presented to the firm’s key creditors, clients and shareholders.

Okoye had a very promising banking career at the firm but he wanted to make a greater impact, so he quit his job to pursue a public sector career. At the start of his political career, he received a lot of open skepticism on his ability to succeed based on his age, background and inexperience. And, there were very few youths with a strong presence in the public sector and navigating an industry dominated by much older and established individuals was very difficult. Being very young, he had to work extra hard to build credibility with his peers. He actively volunteered for new opportunities, not afraid to make and learn from his mistakes. He also deepened his relationships with other senior public officials and learned from their experiences.

Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Investments

In July 2012, Okoye was appointed as senior special assistant to the Governor Peter Obi on Investments and managed a N25Bn ($150m) investment portfolio for the state at the time.

Anambra State Investment Promotion and Protection Agency

At just 26 at the time, he was entrusted with managing Anambra State’s biggest investments where he actively sought ways to improve its investment climate which led to the conceptualization of the Anambra State Investment Promotion and Protection Agency (ANSIPPA) - Anambra’s first investment promotion agency. He had shared his plan for ANSIPPA with the then-newly elected Governor, Willie Obiano who tasked him with the creation of ANSIPPA. He became ANSIPPA’s first Executive Director and was instrumental in attracting over N150Bn ($400m) in additional investments to the state. He is guided by a personal vision of broadening Anambra’s economy, in making it the number one investment destination and a hub for commercialization and industrialization in Africa.

Ministry of Economic Planning, Budget and Development Partners

In his capacity as two-term serving commissioner for Economic Planning, Budget and Development Partners, Okoye drives the development and execution of Anambra’s economic blueprint, medium-term strategic plans and annual budgets. Okoye ran Anambra State’s first zero-based budget in 2016 and refined same process for the execution of its subsequent budgets. He created and currently supervising the implementation of a N30bn economic stimulus package designed to cushion the effect of the economic crisis on Anambra citizens wherein over 50,000 households have been impacted. Mark has also been nominated to serve on several federal and regional government committees focused on economic growth and sustainable development.

AWARDS AND HONOURS

Mark has since received a few awards in recognition of his political career achievements. Okoye is the recipient of The Future Awards Africa Prize for Young Person of the Year 2016, which celebrates young people across Africa who have made outstanding achievements. In 2017, he was mentioned as one of the Most Influential People of African Descent under 40 for his outstanding contributions. He was also the winner of the keenly contested 2017 Junior Chambers International Awards for leadership and governance in Nigeria. More recently, he was selected for the 2018 Obama Foundation Africa Leaders Program which seeks to identify emerging leaders in government and the private sector who have demonstrated a commitment to advancing the common good within their sphere of influence.

HOBBIES AND INTERESTS

Okoye enjoys playing video games and listening to music. He also enjoys watching professional football, having being a die-hard Manchester United fan since 1995.

REFERENCES

Meet Mark Okoye, Africa’s Young Person of the Year https://guardian.ng/saturday-magazine/meet-mark-okoye-africas-young-person-of-the-year/

Brief Profile/Biography/History of “Mark Okoye” Anambra State (Honorable Commissioner For Economic Planning And Budget Development) http://dailymedia.com.ng/profilebiography-mark-okoye-anambra-state-honorable-commissioner-economic-planning-budget-development/

Mark Okoye, A reflection of an emerging leader http://theinterview.com.ng/2017-06/mark-okoye-reflection-emerging-leader

Anambra: 30-year-old man appointed as commissioner https://www.naij.com/863702-anambra-30-year-man-appointed-commissioner.html

Hon. Comm. Mark Okoye Emerges JCI's Young Person of the Year (Government & Politics Category) http://www.anambrablog.ng/2017/07/hon-comm-mark-okoye-emerges-jcis-young.html

Youngest Commissioner in Nigeria, Mark Okoye Wins The Future Awards Africa Young Person Of The Year https://www.abusidiqu.com/youngest-commissioner-nigeria-mark-okoye-wins-future-awards-africa-young-person-year/

Gov. Obiano Reshuffles Cabinet, Re-designates ministries http://www.nigerianeye.com/2016/03/gov-obiano-reshuffles-cabinet-re.html

JCI Announces 2017’s Ten Outstanding Young Persons of Nigeria Award Honourees http://omojuwa.com/2017/07/jci-announces-2017s-ten-outstanding-young-persons-nigeria-award-honourees/