Mark Okoye II

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Mark Okoye II
Born (1986-06-15) 15 June 1986 (age 35)
OccupationPolitician, public servant
RelativesMark Okoye I (father)

Mark Okoye II (born 15 June 1986) is a Nigerian politician, public service official and state cabinet member in Anambra State, South East Nigeria. Okoye gained national acclaim, in 2016, when he was named as the Commissioner for Economic Planning, Budget and Development Partners under the administration of Governor Willie Obiano,[1] which made him the youngest Nigerian to be named a commissioner since onset of Nigeria's Fourth Republic in 1999.[2] He had previously served as the Senior Special Assistant on Investments to former Governor Peter Obi,[3] he was also the pioneer Executive Director and Secretary to the Anambra State Investment Protection and Promotion Agency (ANSIPPA).[4]

Early life[]

Okoye was born 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 and had been previously elected to the House of Representatives in 1979 at the age of 28. Okoye's mother is a former Nigerian bank executive director and a former Vice Chairman of the Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC).[5]

Okoye had his secondary education at Atlantic Hall School.[6] He attended the George Washington University, US where he graduated with a degree in Finance.[7] He has since attended numerous executive education programs at the Harvard Kennedy School, and several other academic institutions across the world.[8]

Personal life[]

Okoye is married to Philippe Mark-Okoye.[7] The couple both have one son, born in March 2017.[9]

Career[]

Okoye began his professional career at Afrinvest Limited, an independent investment banking firm with a focus on West Africa, where he worked on several financial advisory and capital raising projects for clients across the public and private sectors.[10] Okoye eventually quit his banking job to pursue a career in the public sector.

In July 2012, Okoye was appointed as senior special assistant to the Governor Peter Obi on Investments.[11]

At the age of 26, was entrusted with managing Anambra State's investment infrastructure, which led to the conceptualization of the Anambra State Investment Promotion and Protection Agency (ANSIPPA) – Anambra's first investment promotion agency, and he served as the pioneer Executive Director.[4]

In 2016, he was sworn in as the commissioner for Economic Planning, Budget and Development Partners, with a mandate to drive the development and execution of Anambra state's economic blueprint, medium-term strategic plans and annual budgets. His appointment made him the youngest Nigerian to be appointed a Commissioner since the beginning of the Fourth Republic in 1999.[12]

Awards and recognition[]

In 2016, Okoye received Prize for Young Person of the Year 2016, which celebrates young people across Africa who have made outstanding achievements.[10] In 2017, he was named as one of the Most Influential People of African Descent under 40 (MIPAD), by the United Nations’ International Decade for People of African Descent, a civil society initiative that celebrates high achievers of African descent.[13] He was also the winner of the 2017 Junior Chambers International Awards in the category of Political, Legal and Government Affairs.[14] In 2018, he was selected as part of the first group of participants to the 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.[15]

References[]

  1. ^ "Obiano swears in 19 commissioners, 11 special advisers". Punch Newspaper. Anambra, Nigeria. 26 March 2018. Retrieved 30 March 2020.
  2. ^ Agbo, Temiday (30 December 2016). "Anambra Governor Swears In Nigeria's Youngest Commissioner, Mark Okoye Who Is 30 Years Old". Nigerian Monitor. Anambra, Nigeria. Retrieved 30 March 2020.
  3. ^ "Mark Okoye, A reflection of an emerging leader". The Interview. Anambra, Nigeria. 6 December 2016. Retrieved 30 March 2020.
  4. ^ a b "Mark Okoye". ANSIPPA. Anambra, Nigeria. 6 December 2016. Retrieved 30 March 2020.
  5. ^ "Nigeria: Court Returns Revoked Ex-FCT Minister's Land". All Africa. Lagos, Nigeria. 21 August 2007. Retrieved 30 March 2020.
  6. ^ "Atlantic Hall School Marks 30, as Alumni Gears to Raise N2Billion". Thisday Newspaper. Lagos, Nigeria. 31 January 2020. Retrieved 30 March 2020.
  7. ^ a b "Beautiful photos of Nigeria's youngest commissioner and his gorgeous wife". Legit Nigeria. Lagos, Nigeria. 6 March 2019. Retrieved 30 March 2020.
  8. ^ "Nigeria's youngest commissioner Mark Okoye". Information Nigeria. Lagos, Nigeria. 22 December 2018. Retrieved 30 March 2020.
  9. ^ Williams, Yvonne (6 March 2017). "It's a boy! Nigeria's Youngest Commissioner and wife welcome first child". Happenings. Lagos, Nigeria. Retrieved 30 March 2020.
  10. ^ a b Nwanne, Chuks (24 December 2016). "Meet Mark Okoye, Africa's Young Person of the Year". Guardian Newspaper. Lagos, Nigeria. Retrieved 30 March 2020.
  11. ^ "Youngest Commissioner In Nigeria, Mark Okoye Wins The Future Awards Africa Young Person Of The Year". Abusidiqu. Lagos, Nigeria. 21 December 2016. Retrieved 30 March 2020.
  12. ^ "Obiano Swears-in Mark Okoye As Youngest Commissioner In Anambra". Scan News. Lagos, Nigeria. 20 June 2016. Retrieved 30 March 2020.
  13. ^ Emilike, Obinna (29 March 2017). "MIPAD unveils 2016 list of '100 Under 40 Most Influential People of African Descent'". Business Day Newspaper. Lagos, Nigeria. Retrieved 30 March 2020.
  14. ^ Nwanne, Chuks (12 August 2017). "Cobhams, Mark Okoye, others, make JCI Ten Outstanding Young Persons of Nigeria list". Guardian Newspaper. Lagos, Nigeria. Retrieved 30 March 2020.
  15. ^ "Theme: DIVERGENT THINKING". TEDx. Lagos, Nigeria. Retrieved 30 March 2020.
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