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Tag: Ijaw stakeholders

  • Ijaw stakeholders applaud PAP boss for awarding 3,000 scholarships

    Ijaw stakeholders applaud PAP boss for awarding 3,000 scholarships

    Stakeholders under the auspices of the Ijaw Youths Network (IYN) have applauded the Administrator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP), Dr Dennis Otuaro, for empowering indigenes of the Niger Delta region with over 3000 scholarships.

    The stakeholders commended Otuaro’s support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration through his unflinching commitment to the peace and development of the Niger Delta.

    The IYN in a statement on Saturday by its National Coordinator Frank Ebikabo and Secretary, Federal Ebiaridor, said that Otuaro had not departed from his avowed commitment to bridging the human capital development gap in the region.

    The stakeholders further hailed the  PAP boss for the recent deployment of 161 beneficiaries from impacted communities for targeted programmes in universities in the United Kingdom.

    They urged Otuaro to remain focused and dedicated  to the cause of the region and to ignore all attempts by mischief makers to distract him.

    The group said the deliberate steps taken by Otuaro to spread educational opportunities in the communities of the Niger Delta remained one of the most effective ways of entrenching lasting peace and development in the region.

    The stakeholders said that the Niger Delta and the entire country would feel the positive impacts of Otuaro’s visionary input to education in years to come.

    The youth leaders also commended the National Security Adviser, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, for his strategic supervision of the Presidential Amnesty Office, and contributions to entrenched peace in the Niger Delta.

    The IYN called on youths of the Niger Delta to prioritize the interest of the region in making a political choice in 2027 and urged them to back Otuaro’s call to support President Tinubu in the forthcoming election.

    They recalled the efforts by Otuaro in previous scholarship deployments and vocational training, stressing that the president had been supportive of the PAP initiatives.

    The group said:  “We have noted with keen interest the recent deployment of a huge number of Niger Delta indigenes for scholarship programmes within and outside the country.

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    “The record we have shows that over 3000 young people are benefiting from these unprecedented efforts of the PAP under Otuaro’s leadership within the country and 161 in the UK universities for the 2025/2026 academic year.

    “We at the IYN commend the PAP boss for his laudable efforts. We know his antecedents, and we are not surprised that he has made this level of unprecedented impact within a short time.

    “We urge him to remain focused on the job and ignore detractors spreading falsehood about the programme and its leaders.

    “We also call on our colleagues in the Niger Delta to give the requisite support to Otuaro and the Tinubu administration, which has given priority to issues affecting our people.”

  • Tinubu gave Niger Delta best NDDC management team, say Ijaw stakeholders

    Tinubu gave Niger Delta best NDDC management team, say Ijaw stakeholders

    Ijaw stakeholders under the auspices of the Movement for the Survival of the Izon Ethnic Nationality in the Niger Delta (MOSIEND) has hailed President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for assembling the best management team to run the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).

    The President of MOSIEND, Amb. Kennedy Tonjo West, said for his choices of Dr. Samuel Ogbuku as the Managing Director and other personalities he appointed as directors, Tinubu without bias demonstrated his interest in the development and growth of the Niger Delta.

    West, in a statement on Sunday, said the performance of the board in 2024 had justified the intentions of Mr. President in selecting them to run the affairs of the commission.

    He said the Ogbuku-led board demonstrated mutual respect and an unprecedented level of dedication to addressing the challenges plaguing the region.

    He said: “When President Tinubu constituted the NDDC Board, many were skeptical due to the infighting that led to the dismantling of the other board but today, the strides made by this technically sound and development focused team have proven doubters wrong.

    “The Tinubu administration is receiving commendation from many quarters for getting it right as regards appointments made into the commission and other departments of the government, a thing that eluded past administrations”.

    West said Ogbuku demonstrated an open door policy, detrabilized, and humble disposition in adopting some of the suggestions and advice he received during the interactive sessions and stakeholders engagements into his programmes.

    He said: “We urge Mr President to take the board very seriously and approve every facility to advance the Renewed Hope Agenda in the region. MOSIEND is not a partisan organisation but with the passion and unwavering commitment of the NDDC board and with this high level of performance, we are tempted to say Mr President may clinch the whole region if he contests for a second term”.

    West advised the state governors in the region to jettison party sentiments and collaborate among themselves to further advance the development of the region.

    He said: “The NDDC’s performance reflects President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, and it has restored the faith of the Niger Delta people in the commission’s mandate. We hope that those, who take delight in obstructing meaningful development of the Niger Delta region will take a break this time around and allow the dream of the commission come through”.

    West said Ogbuku kept his pledge to adhere strictly to the President’s directive on completing all ongoing projects in the region including roads, bridges, schools and healthcare facilities.

    He said the commission also embarked on human capital development to give the citizens of the region a sense of belonging.

    He said a major plus for the Ogbuku led administration was the setting up of the Niger Delta Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Trade, Mines and Agriculture (NDCCITMA) to stimulate economic activities in the region

    “This singular feat designed to foster economic growth and peace in the oil-rich region seeks to engage youths in meaningful ventures and promote entrepreneurship through structured support from the NDCCITMA.

    He said NDDC introduced free medical services, provided financial support for life-threatening illnesses for individuals, and equipped hospitals to improve healthcare delivery in the region.

    West said the commission’s postgraduate scholarship programme for indigenes of the Niger Delta created opportunities for academic and professional growth adding that the commission completed abandoned big ticket projects that dotted the landscape of the region.

    He said: “To put an end to the reoccurring case of youth restiveness, the commission put in place youth based programmes like Project Hope, the Niger Delta Investment Scheme and internship initiatives aimed at reducing unemployment and empowering the youths.

    “For the first time, ethnic nationalities in the Niger Delta are united in their support for the NDDC. This is a testament to the inclusive approach of the current leadership,” he said.

    The MOSIEND boss urged all stakeholders to support the board’s vision and warned against activities that could derail the ongoing progress in the region under President Tinubu and Ognuku.
    END