Tag: Ogbuku

The Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Dr Samuel Ogbuku, has described the newly introduced Niger Delta Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Trade, Mines and Agriculture (NDCCITMA) as a catalyst for growth in the region.

Ogbuku, who spoke during the NDCCITMA sensitisation workshop in Calabar, Cross River State, noted that the initiative would help to train youths and aspiring entrepreneurs, as well as support small and medium-scale enterprises.

The NDDC boss, who was represented by the Cross River State Representative on the NDDC Board, Orok Duke, said that the Chamber of Commerce would provide a platform for young businesses to thrive.

Ogbuku in a statement signed by the NDDC Director, Corporate Affairs, Seledi Thomson-Wakama, called on the National Association of Small and Medium Enterprises, formal and informal business groups, and individuals that required financial support to register with the new Chamber of Commerce.

Ogbuku said that the chamber of commerce would attract new businesses and technologies to the Niger Delta region, as well as support new businesses through networking opportunities, leading to growth in the economy of the region.

Speaking earlier, the Chairman of NDCCITMA, Amb. Idaere Ogan said that the people of the region had yearned for a forum where they could seek genuine guidance and assistance in developing their businesses.

He said: “Let me salute the visionary leadership of the Managing Director of the NDDC and his Executive Management for this unique innovation to promote the establishment of NDCCITMA.

“The primary objective of NDCCITMA is to work closely with the NDDC to pursue its vision for the Niger Delta region, implement its mandate, and bring development to the people of the region.”

In his address, the NDDC Executive Director, of Projects, Victor Antai, noted that the programme had been translated from vision to reality.

He said: “When I assumed office as the Executive Director, Projects, one of the foremost initiatives I reckoned will significantly impact the development of our region, was the Niger Delta Chamber of Commerce initiative.”

Antai, who was represented by the NDDC Director, of Commercial and Industrial Development, Dr Godwin Nosiri, said that the Commission organised the workshop to raise awareness about the establishment of the NDCCITMA and to explore the vast opportunities it presented across the economic sector.

He said: “Startups and business ideas in conceptual stages can leverage this opportunity, to advance their interests by seeking valuable business counsel from the Chamber of Commerce”.

Antai said that the chamber would complement the Holistic Opportunity Projects of Engagement, HOPE, meant to identify the interests of the youths for skills training.

The Secretary of the NDCCITMA board, Dr Solomon Edebiri, said that “the successful establishment of the Niger Delta Chamber of Commerce is one of the numerous success stories of the NDDC under the leadership of Chief Samuel Ogbuku.

Read Also: Selfish detractors pushing to truncate our tenure in NDDC, says Ogbuku

He added: “The process further attests to his commitment, strength, and tenacity when it comes to the delivery of projects that will enhance the region economically and ginger the people in multiple disciplines.”

He applauded the NDDC management for deciding to use the Chambers of Commerce as a tool for development that would encompass the informal sector and small, medium, and large-scale businesses.

The President of the Calabar Chamber of Commerce, Mr. David Etim, urged the NDCCITMA to always interface with big industries with workshops to set up vocational training centres across the region where young entrepreneurs could be trained.

The Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Dr Samuel Ogbuku, has boasted that the new board is changing the previous negative narratives of the NDDC.

Ogbuku said the rebirth of the NDDC was following the conscious and sustained efforts of the board to chart a new course for the commission.

He assured that the commission will continue to play a strategic role in the development of education to ensure sustainable development in the Niger Delta region.

Ogbuku spoke during the 2024 Moot and Mock Trial Competition for law Faculties in the universities of the Niger Delta region, held at the Dr Nabo Graham Douglas Port Harcourt Campus of the Nigerian Law School.

He said: “The NDDC has intervened in various areas of our educational development, such as its scholarship schemes, building hostels, providing electricity, and many other infrastructure projects in educational institutions across the region.

“Since our assumption of duty at the NDDC, we have made educational development and human capacity building our key policy thrust. The previous negative narrative of the NDDC is changing due to the conscious and sustained efforts to chart a new course of development for the region.

“After our Rewind to Rebirth initiative, we resolved to Transit from Transaction to Transformation, which entails making a real difference in the lives of our people, as part of our contribution to the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

“We have reactivated and strengthened our foreign post-graduate scholarship scheme, making it more merit-based and funding it adequately to prevent the challenges of the past. We also reactivated and strengthened our free medical outreach programme, which provides top-notch healthcare to our people at the grassroots.

Ogbuku noted that the region had enhanced the development of jurisprudence in Nigeria and contributed immensely to the development of the legal profession.

He said: “Indeed, the region boasts of producing some of the finest legal philosophers in Nigeria, from the Late Justice Udo Udoma, Late Justice Chukwudifo Oputa, Hon. Justice Ndoma-Egba, Justice Victor Ovie-Whiskey, Justice Niki Tobi, Justice Nabo Graham Douglas and Justice Walter Onoghen.

He announced that the NDDC would sponsor the outstanding faculty of law to undertake a one-month internship at the law firm of O.C.J Okocha in Port Harcourt.

Also speaking, the chairman of the NDDC Governing Board, Chiedu Ebie, said that the commission would institutionalise the Moot and Mock competition to ensure that it endures.

He said that the commission would continue to play its statutory role in developing and supporting other efforts to advance education, as well as support the development of legal education through practical training to improve capacity.

Ebie maintained that the strengthening of law and order was critical to the development of the region because it would ensure that all stakeholders contributing to regional development operated within the limits and expectations of the law.

The NDDC Chairman promised that the Commission would underwrite the one-year subscription to the Nigerian Weekly Law Reports for all the participating law faculties in the Moot and Mock competition.

Speaking earlier, the Special Guest of Honour, Chief O.C.J Okocha, commended NDDC for sponsoring the Moot and Mock Trial competition for law students, stating that it was an essential component of legal training.

Okocha, a former President of the Nigerian Bar Association, said that human capacity building was a very important factor in the development of any region, adding that it was central to the development of critical thinking in all professions.

The legal luminary observed that the recent establishment of the South-East Development Commission and the North-West Development Commission raised some fundamental questions, given the political considerations that informed the move.

He said: “I hope the establishment of these commissions will not whittle down the importance attached to the NDDC as a vehicle for the rapid development of the Niger Delta region. These new commissions should not be used to undermine the effectiveness and usefulness of the NDDC.

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“The Niger Delta is still a special region that needs special attention from the central government as the goose that lays the golden eggs for the country.”

Earlier in his welcome address, the NDDC Director of Legal Services, Dr Stephen Ighomuaye, said that the intellectual engagement of the youths of the region was a strategic mechanism to be consciously developed in finding creative solutions to the challenges facing the region.

He said: “At the NDDC, we firmly believe that engaging the region’s youth intellectually is a vital strategy that should be actively nurtured and cultivated to address the unique challenges faced by the region, rather than turning to violence.”

The Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Samuel Ogbuku, has vowed that the early approval of the commission’s 2024 budget will help to speed up the development and socio-economic transformation of the Niger Delta region.

Ogbuku spoke while presenting its 2024 budget estimates of N1.9tn to the House of Representatives Committee on the NDDC at the National Assembly in Abuja.

Addressing the committee, chaired by Erhiateke Ibori-Seun, the NDDC boss in a statement signed by the commission’s director of corporate affairs, Seledi Thomson-Wakama highlighted the success stories of the commission with its 2023 budget.

He said a lot of progress was recorded in the region and that much was being done to complete all ongoing projects embarked upon by the commission.

He explained that in preparing the 2024 Budget, titled “Budget of Renewed Hope”, the primary objective was to sustain a robust foundation for sustainable economic development and a greener future for the region.

The NDDC boss said that the proposed budget would be funded through Federal Government contribution, oil companies’ contribution, ecological fund, arrears owed NDDC by the Federal Government and recoveries by Federal Government agencies revenue brought forward, borrowings and internally realized income.

Ogbuku said: “Investing in critical infrastructure is a key component of our fiscal strategy under the 2024 Budget Proposals. The present management has reviewed its process of intervention by adopting the Public-Private-Partnership model as a vehicle to drive sustainable development in the Niger Delta Region.

“To this end, we are in partnership with the Industrial Training Fund to gainfully engage the youths of the region to reduce crime and economic sabotage. We have strategically made provisions towards diversifying our sources of funding as we intend to source an aggregate sum of One trillion naira to fund ongoing legacy projects of the Commission in 2024.

“We shall introduce new performance management frameworks to regulate the overhead cost. Accordingly, only activities that are tied to measurable programmes will be approved. We have moved away from the line-item budgeting system to sectoral allocation.

“I once again commend the 10th National Assembly’s firm commitment to stop the unnecessary circle of delayed annual budgets. I am confident that with our renewed partnership, the deliberations on the 2024 Budget shall be completed soon to pave the way for the 2025 budget as this present Management is poised to normalize the NDDC budget calendar.”

Ogbuku sought sustained support and collaboration from the lawmakers and assured of the strong commitment of management to deepen the relationship with the National Assembly.

He said: “It is a matter of recorded history that we have moved from being transactional to transformational, and transformation is practical. In this regard, we thought it has to be all-encompassing, from areas of youth training, areas of supporting our entrepreneurs, and areas of Infrastructure and development.

“In the area of our youth training, we came up with Project HOPE to put together a proper database of the Youths and Artisans of the Niger Delta Region. It will aid us in engaging these youths in their area of competence.

“In the area of infrastructure, we came up with ‘Operation Light Up Niger Delta Region’, this has seen a reasonable number of the communities being lit up using solar-powered street lights which have boosted the economic activities of the communities at night.

“Health is wealth, and good health remains at the core of human development. The NDDC, through the free medical mission, has provided health solutions to over two million Niger Deltans across communities in the Region and remains committed to working with relevant stakeholders to improve healthcare and all other critical sectors that impact positively on the overall development of the health and wellness of the people of the region.

Read Also: Ogbuku-led NDDC has changed Niger Delta story – Bayelsa monarch

“In Education, we have awarded foreign scholarships to 750 individuals between 2023-2024 and provided educational grants to 84 individuals. Additionally, we are distributing 45,000 Ulesson tablets preloaded with Nigerian and WAEC syllabus to schools in the 9 States in the Niger Delta region.”

Ogbuku told the lawmakers that a new dawn of progress and development was emerging under the present Management of the NDDC saying that standards and effectiveness were being redefined in driving positive change in the region.

The chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on NDDC, Erhiateke Ibori-Seun, commended the Management Team of the Commission for the comprehensive documentation and promised accelerated legislative action on the proposed budget.

Ibori-Seun, who represents Ethiope-West Federal Constituency in the Green Chamber, said the National Assembly was committed to transparency and improved well-being of the people of the Niger Delta region.

The Managing Director, Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Samuel Ogbuku, has said that the upcoming Niger Delta Stakeholders Summit will afford the people an opportunity to discuss President Bola Tinubu’s plans for the region.

He said the event scheduled for July 10 would help to build synergy for the sustainable development of the Niger Delta region.

He said the stakeholders’ engagement was one of the cardinal points in the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration.

He said: “The importance of stakeholder engagement is to ensure that projects and activities of government are well understood by the people to create room for synergy.

“Mr. President cannot be talking about Renewed Hope Agenda and his plans for the people of the region without giving the people opportunities for conversations to discuss the plans for them to make inputs where necessary.

“The plans for renewed hope have to be tailor-made. Hence, the people must participate in the process. Moreover, the democracy we are practising today is a participatory democracy where you must bring the leadership and followers together for a proper understanding of policies and programmes.

“Renewed hope means touching lives. This government is out to touch lives. Bringing the people under one roof in the Niger Delta is to let them know what the renewed hope for sustainable development is all about and how beneficial it is for the region.

“The whole idea is to ensure the people of the region key into the renewed hope for sustainable development, support programmes and activities of government so that we as a region can benefit immensely from the government.”

Ogbuku noted that President Tinubu had charged the NDDC to complete and commission signature projects that would impact the lives of Niger Deltans.

Following the directive, Ogbuku in a statement signed by the Director of Corporate Affairs, Seledi Thompson-Wakama, said, the Commission recently inaugurated five flagship projects, covering roads, bridges and electricity, across the region.

He listed the projects as  “The 9km Obehie-Oke-Ikpe road in Ukwa West LGA, Abia State; the 25.7 kilometre Ogbia -Nembe Road in Bayelsa State; the 1×15MVA 33/11KV electricity injection substation in Amufi, Ikpoba-Okha Local Government Area in Benin City, Edo State; the 45km double-circuit 33KV feeder line from Omotosho Power Station to Okitipupa, Ondo State and the NDDC 6km Iko-Atabrikang-Akata-Opulom-Ikot Inwang-Okoroutip-Iwochang Road and 600m Ibeno Bridge in Ibeno LGA, Akwa Ibom State.

Also speaking on the upcoming Niger Delta Stakeholders Summit, the Chairman of the Niger Delta Chambers of Industry, Trade, Mines and Agriculture (NDCCITMA), Chief Idaere Gogo Ogan, stated that it had become imperative to have a strategic conversation on the roadmap for the Niger Delta region.

He said: “The Niger Delta region, by way of economic size, combines to about 51 trillion naira today. If you put it on a comparative level, we are bigger than Africa’s seventh-largest economy, Lagos by almost 10 trillion naira. It gives you the picture and the reason a conversation must take place.

“Having this sort of conversation will help us to build a road map for economic development by highlighting the priority areas where the government is meant to invest for the socio-economic transformation of the Niger Delta region.

“We need to discuss youth unemployment and ways to scale up our natural endowments and resources. How do we monetize our gas reserves? How do we transition from gas to power? Industrialization of Nigeria can take place in the Niger Delta because we have the gas, which we can convert to power.”

Ogan said that discussions must take place “as development does not come from one man’s idea. It has to go through a series of plans and strategies”.

Read Also: Ogbuku-led NDDC has changed Niger Delta story – Bayelsa monarch

He added: “Of course, no matter the best plan you have if you do not have a well-thought-out execution plan, progress will never be made.”

He commended the NDDC for organizing the Stakeholders Summit, to provide a platform for stakeholders to comprehensively evaluate our strengths and agree on strategies to be adopted.

Ogan said: “Development should not be haphazard or subject to the interest of one man. It should be comprehensive and holistic with a strategic outlook. Any policy that is not evidence-based cannot deliver the development needs of our people.

“I am elated and I look forward to being part of the discussions that will take place. Hopefully, we will develop a regional masterplan that will usher in the much-needed prosperity for our people.”

The chairman of Bayelsa State Traditional Rulers Council, King Bubaraye Dakolo, has applauded the Samuel Ogbuku-led board of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), saying it has changed the region’s story.

Dakolo in a statement signed by the commission’s director of corporate affairs, Pius Ughakpoteni, particularly commended the NDDC for organising free medical outreaches across the Niger Delta region.

The monarch, who spoke during the NDDC free medical mission at the Diete Koki Memorial Hospital in Yenagoa, said that the current board and management of the commission had executed numerous developmental projects and programmes.

He said: “The present board of NDDC has carved a niche for itself as a result of its strategic and innovative projects. The impact is very huge and felt by everyone, not only in Bayelsa State but the entire Niger Delta region.”

The royal father described the free medical outreach organised by the NDDC as a life-saving programme that should be carried out regularly.

He said: “I want to appeal to the management of NDDC to ensure a higher frequency of the exercise which is a life-saving project. Everyone that has benefitted from this intervention today will ever remain grateful to NDDC as a saving grace because if not for this programme, a lot of deaths would have been recorded.”

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In his address, the NDDC managing director, Dr Samuel Ogbuku, said the medical mission was designed to provide healthcare services to medically underserved rural communities in the region.

He said it was one of the many healthcare programmes of the commission aligned to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s “Health for All, Time for Action” proclamation at the 2023 World Universal Health Conference.

Ogbuku, who was represented by the Head of Administration and Human Resources, Bayelsa State Office, Anderson Woyengiauro, noted that since the commencement of the programme, over 2 million Niger Deltans had benefitted from the scheme.

He said: “The NDDC through the free medical mission has provided health solutions to over two million Niger Deltans across communities in the region and remains committed to working with relevant stakeholders to improve health and other critical sectors that impact positively on the overall development of the health and wellness of the people of the region.”

In his remarks, the deputy state project coordinator of Derums Global Services, the Medical Consultant of the outreach mission, Dr. Blessing Oboidhe, explained that 69 general surgeries, 18 obstetrics, and gynecology, 434 dental procedures, 79 ophthalmology procedures, among other services were provided to people.

The Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Samuel Ogbuku, has said that the performance and reforms of his administration are changing people’s negative perceptions of the commission.

Ogbuku acknowledged there was a lot of distrust and suspicion about the operations of the NDDC, which he said has led to conflicts between the commission’s beneficiaries of projects.

But he said the current management’s efforts through transparent administration especially in the areas of project execution had changed such perception and reduced conflict in the region.

Ogbuku spoke in Port Harcourt at a Strategic Capacity Building on Conflict Management and Peacebuilding Approaches for NDDC’s Personnel, tagged, Fostering Peaceful Engagement for Sustainable Development, organised by Peace and Development Project (PEDEP) in partnership with NDDC’s Department of Dispute and Conflict Resolution (DCR).

Ogbuku, who was represented by the Director, of administration and Human Resources, Patrick Ikade, thanked the DCR arm of the commission for the training, saying it would equip the employees of NDDC with skills in conflict management and resolution.

He said that the people of the region had much distrust and suspicion of the commission over projects and that such had triggered conflict, but noted that the training would address such issues.

Ogbuku said: “I will thank the Dispute and Conflict Resolution department for this programme. It is coming at the right time in the history of the Niger Delta when many projects are to be executed in our communities.

“We are about hitting the ground with several programmes and projects based on our mandate. These projects and programmes will take us to the people and that will surely bring conflict. It then means that we must have all the necessary skills to manage conflict.

“Youths would not want to see us. All everybody wants to see is what NDDC will do. There is a lot of distrust. There is a lot of suspicion against NDDC. People want to see what the NDDC will do. They want to see if the project started will be completed.

“We need these skills in conflict and dispute resolution to be able to manage issues while we embark on full development of the region.”

In his remarks, the acting Director of the Department of Dispute and Conflict Resolution, NDDC, Goddy Ogedemgbe, said the training would address issues that had led to the abandonment of projects, adding that NDDC was configured for productivity and results.

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Ogedemgbe said: “This training is going to solve a lot of issues in the region, because the MD of NDDC, Samuel Ogbuku is a man of vision. When they went for the economic summit in Akwa Ibom, there was one thing he said that the NDDC is transiting from transaction to transformation.

“What that means is that we are going to be doing things more transparently. This programme is the idea of the MD where NDDC personnel are trained as managers of conflict. Conflict should not arise before we move, but once we observe anything that leads to conflict we move.

“Like the issue in Delta State, the MD of NDDC is working underground with the military to ensure peace in Okuama and the entire region. To ensure that oil production is at the optimum output level. Staff are going to be managers of conflict.”