Managing director of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Dr Samuel Ogbuku, has reiterated the organisation’s commitment to youth empowerment and development.
During a recent interactive forum with opinion leaders and youth groups in Port Harcourt, Ogbuku emphasised the pivotal role of strategic programme in transiting the commission from transactional to transformational.
In a statement issued by the director of corporate affairs, Pius Ughakpoteni, Ogbuku assured the stakeholders of the NDDC’s ongoing engagement to ensure the sustainability of its programmes and projects.
He announced the implementation of quarterly meeting with critical stakeholders to formulate comp rehensive strategies for the region’s development.
“Not until we give all our leaders, political, traditional, youths, women and other leaders in the Niger Delta that platform and opportunity to discuss what our future should be, we may not understand the direction that our people want to go,” Ogbuku said.
Highlighting the NDDC’s duty to harness resources from diverse groups, Ogbuku emphasised the significance of involving youths at the foundational level of programme planning.
He praised the Holistic Opportunity Projects of Engagement (HOPE) initiative for providing opportunities and hope to Niger Delta youths through skills training.
The HOPE project has enabled the commission to establish a comprehensive digital repository, housing vital information on over 470,000 youths in the region. This database will inform data-driven planning and facilitate the formulation of impactful policies and programmes targeted at youth empowerment.
Collaborating with the Niger Delta Chamber of Commerce and the Bank of Industry, the NDDC is actively supporting small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and fostering youth entrepreneurship.
Ogbuku announced plans for a Niger Delta Stakeholders Summit to solicit input from all stakeholders for the region’s development.
While urging Niger Deltans to resist political destabilisation, Ogbuku emphasized the detrimental effects on development and unity.
The NDDC executive director of finance and administration, Alabo Boma Iyaye echoed the importance of stakeholder engagements in driving the development process, recognizing youths as the backbone of society.
Comrade Kennedy West of MOSIEND commended the NDDC for providing a platform for youth interaction and lauded the Project HOPE initiative’s focus on creating employment opportunities, particularly in agriculture.
The coordinator for Project HOPE, Ambassador Blessing Fubara, outlined plans for the programme’s second phase, which will target commercial agriculture, information technology, and the creative industry.
“The NDDC’s unwavering commitment to youth empowerment and engagement underscores its dedication to fostering sustainable development in the Niger Delta region. Through collaborative efforts and inclusive strategies, the Commission aims to create a brighter future for the youth and communities of the Niger Delta,” Fubara said.
