NDDC Pledges to Collaborate with Rotary International
The Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, has pledged to collaborate with Rotary International to enhance the delivery of services and the execution of development projects in the Niger Delta region.
The NDDC Managing Director, Dr Samuel Ogbuku, made the promise when a delegation from Rotary International District 9141, led by the Governor-Elect, Mr. Chinedu Ikegwuani, paid him a courtesy visit at the Commission’s headquarters in Port Harcourt. The delegation included a former Acting MD of NDDC, Mrs. Ibim Semenitari.
Ogbuku emphasised the need for partnerships in fast-tracking the development of the Niger Delta region, noting that the NDDC found it expedient to introduce new policies to drive the development process.
He said: “One of the new policies we introduced is the "Rewind to Rebirth" initiative, a strategic vision designed to recalibrate engagement with Niger Delta stakeholders and the Commission’s overall intervention implementation plan.”
Riding on the spirit of rebirth, he said, the NDDC embraced the Public-Private Partnership, PPP, as a major policy thrust and organised a PPP Summit in Lagos on April 25, 2023.
The NDDC boss noted that the Commission had recorded many gains from the PPP initiative, citing the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding, MoU, with the Nigeria Liquified Natural Gas Limited, NLNG, as one of such gains. According to him, the collaboration with NLNG would facilitate the execution of some legacy projects such as the Bonny Ring Road and the Kaa-Ataba Road and Bridge, linking Khana Local Government Area to Andoni LGA in Rivers State.
According to Ogbuku, another initiative taken by the NDDC was the introduction of a youth development and empowerment scheme, known as Holistic Opportunities, Projects and Engagement, HOPE, to create a comprehensive database of the youth population of the Niger Delta region.
He noted: “Project HOPE marks a turning point in youth development and empowerment because it is meant to provide a platform to empower youths of the region on sustainable basis.”
Ogbuku stated that the Commission developed a new concept of working with the Niger Delta Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Trade, Mines and Agriculture, NDCCITMA, in the training of youths and young entrepreneurs in the Niger Delta region, noting that the board of the Chamber of Commerce had been inaugurated.
He said further: “The Commission has come up with the Triple T Policy, which represents Transiting from Transaction to Transformation, to ensure accountability and transparency in our processes.
“To ensure that a new institutional culture, anchored on sound ethics and good corporate governance is in place, the Commission engaged KPMG, a reputable global business consultancy, to review and strengthen our corporate governance system, as well as improve our internal processes and institutional protocols.”
In his remarks the Governor- Elect of Rotary International District 9141, Mr. Chinedu Ikegwuani, acknowledged the contributions of the NDDC to the development of the Niger Delta region.
He said: “We are here to discuss partnership with NDDC. We thank the management of NDDC for its numerous transformational projects across the Niger Delta Region.
"We believe that by joining forces with the NDDC, our efforts to improve the living conditions of the people of this region will be enhanced. This collaboration will help us to consolidate our achievements in alleviating poverty in the society.”
The District Governor-Elect highlighted some of the achievements of Rotary International, which included kicking out wild Polio virus in Nigeria and Africa as a whole.
Pius Ughakpoteni
Director, Corporate Affairs
May 1, 2024.