Tag: Samuel Ogbuku

The national leadership of the Host Communities Producing Oil, Gas, and Pipeline Impacted States Youth Council of Nigeria (HOSTCON Youth Council), alongside its Board of Trustees (BoT), has applauded President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for appointing the Samuel Ogbuku-led board of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).

The Council noted that the NDDC board had reshaped, repositioned and transformed the region since its formation by Mr. President.

The group also commended the leadership of the NDDC Managing Director, Dr. Samuel Ogbuku, for selfless service and project delivery across the Niger Delta states.

“We commend President Tinubu for the appointment of Ogbuku as the commission’s Managing Director — a vibrant foresighted visionary leader — that has reshaped, repositioned and transformed the Niger Delta region,” a statement released yesterday by the National President of HOSTCON, Comrade Emmanuel Fiawei Pathfinder, said.

The Council also publicly praised Dr. Week Doodei for his exemplary conduct as the Director of Procurement at the NDDC.

Pathfinder highlighted Dr. Doodei’s professionalism, transparency, and unwavering commitment, which they credited as instrumental to the positive transformation within the Niger Delta region under the direction of Dr. Samuel Ogbuku.

He said Doodie’s adherence to the Procurement Act is noted as a benchmark for the commissioning of contracts, aligning with the principles of meritocracy.

The group emphasised that Doodei’s effective resource management and straightforward procurement strategies had led to contract awards based on competence and regulatory compliance, fostering an environment of transparency and accountability.

The Council said this approach had facilitated the timely delivery of projects, reinforcing trust in the Commission’s processes.

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Furthermore, the Council asserted that the ongoing reforms at the NDDC had bolstered the organisation’s credibility, resulting in contractors meeting project deadlines.

The group said the progress had brought significant improvements to the host communities across the nine Niger Delta states.

The Council also lamented previous inefficiencies, where a lack of adherence to the Procurement Act obstructed growth and development in the area and recognised Dr. Doodei’s leadership as a pivotal shift towards more effective service delivery within the commission.

The group said that through his initiatives, the NDDC had reportedly made substantial contributions to the rural economy, encompassing projects in education, healthcare, electrification, agriculture, road infrastructure, and various empowerment programmes.

It also noted that traditional rulers in the region had publicly acknowledged the positive changes resulting from Doodei’s initiatives, reinforcing the impact of his work on their communities.

Highlighting his role during the 2022 flood crisis, HOSTCON noted that Doodei coordinated the distribution of palliatives to affected communities in Bayelsa State, working closely with local representatives to ensure relief materials reached those mostly in need.

The Council stressed that under Doodei’s stewardship as Director of Procurement in line with the laudable transformational programme and reforms of the MD/CEO of the commission, Chief Dr Samuel Ogbuku’s watch had regained its reputation as a credible intervention agency of the Federal Government.

The Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Dr Samuel Ogbuku, has declared that the Renewed Hope Agenda (RHA) of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for the Niger Delta is not just a mere slogan.

Ogbuku said the RHA remained a social contract between the President and the people of the region, saying it had translated visions into actions with a determination to keep transforming the region.

Ogbuku noted that the current NDDC Board and Management were committed to rewriting the commission’s narrative through transparency, equity, and purposeful leadership.

A statement signed by the NDDC Director Corporate Affairs, Seledi Thompson-Wakama, said Ogbuku spoke when he hosted a delegation from the Isoko Ethnic Nationality, led by the President General of Isoko Development Union (IDU), Prof. Chris Akpotu, at the NDDC headquarters in Port Harcourt.

He said that under the directives of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and within the framework of the Renewed Hope Agenda, the commission was focused on transforming ideas into visible achievements.

He said, “When we speak of the Renewed Hope Agenda, it is not just a slogan, it is a social contract between Mr. President and the Niger Delta people. It’s about translating vision into action. But we cannot afford to lose time. That is why we must all work together.”

Ogbuku reaffirmed the commitment of the commission to the holistic development of the Niger Delta region.

He said that the commission was open to all ethnic nationalities in the Niger Delta region, noting that its mandate was to serve the people and ensure the sustainable development of all communities in the area.

Ogbuku said, “We all face the same challenges. Therefore, we must all work together to address our challenges, regardless of our ethnicity. These challenges, like underdevelopment and ecological problems, bring us all together.

“We are all united by a common factor: the challenges we face. We must maintain this identity. We should leverage our bond, as standing alone may not be as strong as our collective strength.”

“The Isoko and Ijaw people are essentially one people because we share a common lineage and we inter-marry. Our ancestral origins connect us, and we must recognise ourselves as one to achieve better development together.”

Ogbuku charged the Isoko delegation to continue to support the NDDC in its efforts to develop the region, advising them to avoid casting aspersions on the Commission, which he said was the only agency with visible projects in many Niger Delta communities.

Responding to concerns raised by the Isoko delegation, Ogbuku noted that the NDDC was reviewing the electrification project being executed by the Commission in the area.

He said, “Although this administration did not award the project, we are investigating the variations and challenges involved so the contractor can return to the site”.

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He also addressed the state of the Uzere-Patani Road, parts of which were damaged by flooding and erosion, saying:  “Plans are already underway to re-award the contract, and we will ensure the road is rehabilitated”.

On broader development efforts, Ogbuku pointed out that projects across Isoko land were planned and deliberate.

“We are replicating the training centre model we successfully executed in Bayelsa in Ozoro and Patani”, he said.

Earlier in his remarks, the President General of the Isoko Development Union, Prof. Chris Akpotu, congratulated the NDDC boss on the successful celebration of NDDC’s 25th anniversary and applauded the Commission’s transformation under his leadership.

He said, “Under your leadership, the NDDC has moved from a transactional agency to a transformational one, despite the challenges of funding from IOCs. You have kept your word on inclusivity, and that is why we are here to thank you and to ask for more developmental projects in Isoko land.

“We are confident that under your stewardship, the NDDC will continue to serve the entire Niger Delta with integrity and justice. It is our prayer that you continue to lead the Commission so that we can continue to enjoy the dividends of development.”

The Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Dr. Samuel Ogbuku, has said that the Niger Delta is peaceful following the outcome of the Arts and Culture Day organised by the commission.

Ogbuku spoke during the Arts and Culture Day organised as part of activities marking the Commission’s 25th anniversary in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

He explained that the day was set aside to celebrate the rich cultural heritage of the oil-rich region, in keeping with the anniversary celebration.

The Arts and Culture Day kicked off with a fitness walk from the Polo Club in the Government Reserved Area, GRA, Port Harcourt and moved through Mummy B Road, joining Stadium Road and terminating at the Yakubu Gowan Stadium in Elekahia.

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Different states of the region took turns to parade, dance, and entertain the crowd that thronged the stadium in various dancing steps.

Ogbuku said the art and cultural parade was meant to foster cordial relationships among the people of the Niger Delta.

He said: “We are here today to foster conviviality amongst ourselves as the people of the Niger Delta; to network amongst ourselves, to build relationships and to bond as a people.

“Just the way we did during the Niger Delta Sports Festival, which was the first of its kind, we are here today in Port Harcourt to build conviviality amongst ourselves, love among the people of the Niger Delta. We might differ in tribes, but the Niger Delta is one, Nigeria is one.”

In his remarks, Chairman of the NDDC governing board, Mr. Chiedu Ebie, said the event had provided an opportunity for Niger Deltans to showcase their rich culture.

• By Callixtus Uche

All roads led to the posh Eko Hotels & Suites on Victoria Island, Lagos, at the weekend. Some eminent Nigerians were on parade to receive awards for excellence, industry and enterprise. Among them was the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) Managing Director, Dr Samuel Ogbuku. He is leading the charge to take NDDC from the realm of transaction to transformation to ensure effective service delivery to the people of the oil-rich region.

  Ogbuku stood tall as he received the Public Service Award for exceptional and transformative leadership at the SUN Awards 2024. Within a short time, he has demonstrated that he is on a mission to transform the socio-economic landscape of the Niger Delta. It was a night of celebration, pomp, and ceremony, with All Progressives Congress  (APC) national chairman, Dr Abdullahi Ganduje, presiding. He praised Ogbuku for transforming Niger Delta communities without drawing attention to himself.

Presenting the award to Ogbuku, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, said the event was designed to celebrate Nigeria’s finest. She commended Ogbuku’s leadership qualities and urged him to do more for the region, as his good will always speak for him.

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Ogbuku said he was humbled by the award. He said it showed that Nigerians and the Niger Delta people appreciated NDDC’s development efforts. He added: “The credit also goes to President Bola Tinubu who is committed to ensuring the rapid development of the Niger Delta region.”

He said the award has validated the contributions of the NDDC in driving sustainable development in the Niger Delta. Ogbuku said: “I am deeply honoured to be one of the recipients of The Sun Public Service Award 2024. I extend my heartfelt gratitude to the Board of Editors and the entire team at the Sun Publishing Limited for considering me worthy of this prestigious recognition. This selection and acknowledgement will encourage us to continue contributing to the development of our region and the nation.”

Ahead of the ceremony, SUN Managing Director, Mr. Onuoha Ukeh, who visited Ogbuku in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital, said under his (Ogbuku’s) leadership NDDC has initiated several transformative projects across Niger Delta. He commended NDDC for commissioning five projects in Abia, Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Edo and Ondo states, covering roads, bridges and electricity projects. Ukeh lauded Ogbuku for sustaining the NDDC Foreign Post-Graduate Scholarship Programme, which benefited 2,700 students.

Thirty six Nigerians from different walks of life honoured. Some governors, ministers, federal and state lawmakers, business moguls, members of the diplomatic corps, royal fathers, and celebrities attended the event.

Governors Ahmed Aliyu (Sokoto), Chukwuma Soludo (Anambra), Mohammed Bago (Niger) and Caleb Mutfwang (Plateau) received the Governor of the Year award. Their Kogi counterpart Ahmed Usman Ododo went home with Political Personality of the Year award. Besides Ogbuku, National Examinations Council (NECO) Registrar, Prof Dantani Wushishi, and Customs Comptroller-General, Adewale Adeniyi, among others, carted away the Public Service Award.

The Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Samuel Ogbuku, has assured stakeholders that the commission is focused on building legacy projects in the region.

Ogbuku said such projects would make a positive impact in the region and transform the environment of the Niger Delta.

He restated the commitment of the commission to the continuous engagement of stakeholders in building synergy for the sustainable development of the Niger Delta region.

Ogbuku spoke during the special ceremony organised by the Okrika Council of Chiefs and the people of Okrika in Rivers State to honour the Amanyanabo of Okochiri Kingdom, King Ateke Tom, at the Okrika National School field, in Okrika Local Government Area.

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Ogbuku, who was represented by the NDDC Executive Director, of Projects, Sir Victor Antai, said that the Commission was building strong collaborations and engaging with stakeholders such as traditional rulers to form a strong coalition of development partners.

Ogbuku in a statement signed by the commission’s Director, Corporate Affairs, Pius Ughakpoteni, said:  “We are emphasizing legacy projects which would leave a lasting impact, to transform our environment and the Niger Delta.

“We are moving away from transactional to transformational development because that is the only way we can renew hope in our people and ensure their sustainable development.”

He said that the commission trying to change the narrative, in fulfilling the dreams of all who fought, and continue to fight, for a better Niger Delta region.

He said NDDC would fulfil the expectations of Niger Delta stakeholders to evolve “a Commission that works in their best interest”, adding, “and, in doing so, we would drive the vision of all whose dreams of a better Niger Delta region made Niger Deltans warriors for change.”

“There is no better legacy than to continue to embark on projects that touch the lives of our people.”