C/River: 850 youths run into NDDC favours as 500 get training and grants, 350 get minibuses, tricycles

Asuquo Ekpenyong (2nd left), representing Cross River South in the Senate, handing over one of the minibuses to Arit Akpo (2nd right), a beneficiary, during the Skills Acquisition and Capacity Enhancement Programme in Calabar, Cross River State. With them are Lyna Okara, NDDC Director, Commercial and Industrial Development, (left) and Danial Ajunwa (right) , NDDC Director, Cross River State office.

The Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) train of favours has touched down in Cross River State and the lives of 850 youths have changed for the better.

The Commission has thus trained 500 young men and women in financial prudence and distributed 150 minibuses and 200 tricycles to another set in the State as part of its empowerment programme.

Speaking during the Skills Acquisition and Capacity Enhancement Programme in Calabar, the state capital, Samuel Ogbuku, NDDC Managing Director, said that the programme was a demonstration of the Commission’s commitment to the Renewed Hope Agenda of the President Ahmed Bola Tinubu administration.

Ogbuku, who was represented by Lyna Okara, NDDC Director of Commercial and Industrial Development, made it clear the scheme was not just about giving vehicles and grants, but more about creating opportunities, restoring hope and enabling the people to build better futures for themselves and their families.

The NDDC boss further stated that the Commission had executed impactful projects in Cross River State to reduce unemployment, alleviate poverty and boost local economic activities.

Victor Antai, NDDC Executive Director of Projects, said the promise to the people had been redeemed. He advised the beneficiaries to use the opportunity to improve their livelihoods and provide support for other less privileged people.

Antai, who was represented by Daniel Ajunwa, Director, Cross River State office, urged the people of the state to support President Tinubu and his Renewed Hope Agenda which he said made it possible for the NDDC to sponsor the skills training and empowerment programme.

Speaking during the distribution of minibuses and tricycles at the U.J Esuene Sports Stadium, Asuquo Ekpenyong, a Senator representing Cross River South, expressed commitment to the people, pledging to eradicate poverty in the constituency by creating job opportunities and providing basic amenities for the indigenes.

Asuquo advised the beneficiaries to ensure that the skills acquisition training and the grants were utilised effectively, urging them to maintain the vehicles properly to sustain the empowerment scheme.

One of the state’s stakeholders, Edet Bassey, commended the initiative, describing it as timely and impactful. He thanked the NDDC and asked the Commission to do more.

In a related development, the NDDC trained 500 youths on financial prudence and business management and subsequently supported them with take-off grants.

Speaking on behalf of the 500 beneficiaries of the Skills Acquisition and Capacity Enhancement Programme, Solomon Olatunji thanked the NDDC for its gesture and promised to make judicious use of the opportunity granted to them.

Essien Ufiok, one of the beneficiaries of the tricycle, expressed gratitude for the opportunity and pledged to put it to productive use to improve his livelihood.

According to Seledi Thompson-Wakama,
Director, Corporate Affairs, Arit Akpo, a beneficiary of a minibus, expressed delight at the empowerment, promising to make judicious use of the bus, and thanked President Tinubu, the NDDC, and Senator Asuquo Ekpenyong for the assistance.