The Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) has announced that it has attracted several partnership requests from the European Union, foreign and domestic entities, state governments, and the private sector due to its transparency and accountability in delivering its mandate.
During his visit to Ondo State Government House, where he was received by the Acting Governor, Hon. Lucky Aiyedatiwa, NDDC’s Managing Director/CEO, Dr. Samuel Ogbuku said that the commission has gained the confidence and trust of investors and stakeholders willing to collaborate with it to develop the Niger Delta region and empower its people.
He said that one way the NDDC achieves this goal is by launching the NDDC-HOPE initiative, which stands for Holistic Opportunity Projects of Engagement.
The NDDC-HOPE initiative aims to create a comprehensive database of all Niger Delta youths, women, and entrepreneurs with genuine needs and aspirations that the NDDC’s programmes and interventions can address. The initiative, he explained, would enable the NDDC to reach out to the people directly instead of relying on politicians who may nominate their cronies or relatives who do not need or deserve the opportunities.
Ogbuku said the NDDC-HOPE initiative also aims to create 1,000 jobs per state through strategic partnerships and skill development. He said that the NDDC has partnered with various organisations and institutions to provide training and mentorship to the Niger Delta youths and women in various fields such as agriculture, ICT, renewable energy, fashion, and arts and crafts.
The NDDC helmsman urged the youths and women of the region to embrace the NDDC-HOPE initiative by registering for it online or through designated centres across the region. He said that by doing so, they would not miss out on any opportunities the NDDC offers, such as scholarships, skill acquisition, entrepreneurship development, employment, and empowerment.
“The idea is to have handy contact information of the immediate needs of respective Niger Deltans so that whenever we have a programme, we should reach out to them directly instead of reaching out to politicians who, most a times, nominate their siblings and followers. Sadly, some of them do not need the said programme they are nominated for”, Ogbuku said.
He also expressed his gratitude to the Ondo State Government for its support and cooperation with the NDDC, especially in completing the 132/33kv Okitipupa power substation. He said that the project, which had been abandoned for over 13 years, was about to be completed and would restore electricity to several communities in the area.
Aiyedatiwa commended NDDC for its efforts in developing the Niger Delta region and improving the lives of its people. He thanked Ogbuku and his team for seeing to the completion of the power sub-station project, which he said was a significant achievement for the state and the region.
“On behalf of all indigenes of Ondo State, I want to appreciate NDDC and especially your administration for seeing to the completion of the 132/33kv Okitipupa power sub-station. After over 13 years of blackouts, communities in this area are about to have electricity power restored, courtesy of NDDC. We are not taking this for granted”, the acting Governor said.
He also pledged his support for the NDDC-HOPE initiative, and urged all eligible Niger Deltans to register for it and benefit from the programmes and interventions the commission offers.
