Anambra Appoints Nigeria's Youngest Commissioner

Ikem O.
Jun 17, 2016
1 min read

Anambra State Governor, Willie Obiano has appointed the youngest Commissioner in Nigeria.

30-year-old Mark Okoye was confirmed as Commissioner for Economic Planning and Budget Development by the Anambra State House of Assembly on Wednesday. He possesses a unique combination of experience spanning governance, policy formulation, public sector financing, public budget analysis and corporate finance. Prior to his current role, he served in his current capacity for twenty (20) months during the last administration.

Mark also served as a senior member of the investment banking division at Afrinvest (West Africa) Limited where he was instrumental in executing numerous capital raising and financial advisory transactions. Key transactions include the restructuring of UBA Plc in line with new Central Bank of Nigeria banking guidelines (2012), US$80mm debt and equity capital raising for Kano Shopping Mall (2012), the first and largest shelf registration in Nigeria, US$2.3bn Lagos State Government bond issuance program (2011).

He holds a B.Sc. Finance from the prestigious George Washington University, Washington, DC, USA and is an alumnus of several executive education courses and programmes, including Harvard Kennedy School, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA, Euromoney, Dubai, UAE.

Governor Willie Obiano, who’s government reportedly comprises of over 55% Young People, promoted Okoye who was a former Executive Director, Anambra State Investment Promotion & Protection Agency at Anambra State Government as well as the Special Adviser to the Governor on Economic Planningand Budget. A source said the governor gave him the position as a way of giving youths a chance to prove themselves.