South-East Development Commission Set To Partner Diocese On The Niger

By Odogwu Emeka Odogwu, Awka

The Executive Director of the South-East Development Commission, Sir Sylvester Okonkwo, has said that the commission shall partner the Anglican Diocese on the Niger in diverse ways.

Sir Sylvester stated this in a brief speech during the special thanksgiving service to mark the end of the 2025 Synod of the diocese recently held at St. Barnabas Anglican Church, Ojoto, Idemili South LGA Anambra state.

He commended what he described as “the multi development drives of Bishop Owen”, assured that his commission would effectively partner with the diocese to bring about socio-economic transformation of the diocese and the entire Anambra State.

      Sir Sylvester Okonkwo promised that the lofty projects of the commission would place smiles on the faces of the people of South-East, adding that President Tinubu was using the commission to achieve the process of reconstruction, rehabilitation and reintegration of the Igbo into Nigeria's mainstream.

  Earlier, the Chancellor of the university who is also the Bishop on the Niger, the Rt Rev. Dr Owen Nwokolo informed of his desire to situate the University on the Niger (UniNiger) on a prominent pedestalto actualize academic excellence with state-of-the-arts technological foundation, hence he has sealed partnerships with some renowned local and foreign bodies.

   The partnering bodies include the South-East Development Commission (SEDC) and a few foreign institutions which were said to help add extra value to the academic and infrastructure status of the UniNiger.   
    He commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for the establishment of the South-East Development Commission and the subsequent placing of an Anambra indigene, Hon Sir Sylvester Okonkwo in charge of Corporate Services of the establishment.
   The bishop expressed optimism that the programmes and projects expected of the body would help in no small way to fully actualise the dreams of the parishioners of Diocese on the Niger and Ndi-Anambra in general.