The Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) has announced policies to keep supporting the Nigerian Armed Forces as well as girl-child education. The Commission has just reaffirmed these policies.
Samuel Ogbuku, the managing director, has thus assured that the Commission would continue to support both the Nigerian Army and other security agencies in ensuring the security of lives and property in the Niger Delta region.
Ogbuku stated this when Emmanuel Ejim-Emekah, the General Officer Commanding (GOC) of the 6 Division of the Nigerian Army in Rivers State, paid him a courtesy visit at the NDDC headquarters in Port Harcourt.
The NDDC CEO commended the GOC for seeking collaboration with the NDDC and making the Commission his first point of call upon resumption of duties in Rivers State.
Ogbuku reiterated the Commission’s willingness to ensure that projects were located in the barracks to enhance the military’s operations, stating: “For the Nigerian Army, we have done a couple of things to support your operations. Our commitment is unwavering. Recently, we made significant contributions to various operations, particularly the 16th Brigade in Bayelsa. We are also working on improving the facilities at Bori Camp, including installing solar inverters to reduce the cost of diesel, a burden for many federal agencies. Similar installations are planned for Elele Barracks.
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“In Addition, we are addressing requests for the furnishing of the Command Secondary School at Eche in Rivers State and the renovation of the Command Children School at GRA, Port Harcourt. We believe that when the Nigerian Army succeeds, we all succeed.”
Ogbuku commended the Nigerian Army and other security agencies for restoring peace in the Niger Delta, which has placed the region among the most peaceful areas in the country.
He thanked the army for curbing the region’s restiveness and tasked them with arresting the pockets of criminality that surface periodically.
Speaking earlier, Emekah commended the NDDC management for its development efforts in the Niger Delta region.
He observed: “I think the partnership between the Commission and the Nigerian Army has been very instrumental in enforcing peace and stability within the Niger Delta region. “During my visit to the formations in Bayelsa and Delta States, I saw the Commission’s interventions in the barracks and even in Port Harcourt.
Meanwhile, the Commission has organised sensitisation programmes to promote the girl child education in the Niger Delta region, especially in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) education.
Speaking at the “Help the Girl Child” programme in Umuaka Secondary School, Asa, Ukwa West Local Government Area of Abia State, the Abia State Representative on the NDDC Board, Eruba Dimgba, stressed the importance of educating the girl child.
He noted that the NDDC was not only embarking on infrastructural development but was also on the path of human capital development.
In a similar event in Akwa Ibom State, the Akwa Ibom State Representative on the NDDC Board, Abasiandikan Nkono, encouraged young girls to pursue their dreams with resilience and determination to break barriers and challenge stereotypes.
He told them that the Ogbuku-led administration in NDDC is committed to empowering the Niger Delta girl-child by providing opportunities for them to excel in STEM fields.
In her opening remarks, the Director of the NDDC Akwa Ibom State Office, Anthonia Akpan, underscored the importance of training the girl-child for a brighter future.
The Director of Education, Health, and Social Services (EHSS), George Uzowanne, represented by Senior Manager Angela Shittu, provided insights on the role of science in health and hygiene and demonstrated the proper use of hygiene kits included in the gift packs distributed to the secondary school girls.
One of the Resource persons and a consultant to the programmes, Daniel George, stated that the girl child represented the future of the Niger Delta region. He highlighted the challenges and success stories of the girl child, emphasising the importance of early exposure, mentorship, and perseverance in overcoming societal and institutional barriers.
Expressing their gratitude, beneficiaries of the ” NDDC Help the Girl Child” programme Ntuk Abasifreke Lawrence and Effiong Samuel, thanked the NDDC for recognizing and supporting young girls who aspire to build careers in science and technology.
Students from various girls’ secondary schools, accompanied by their teachers, attended the events in Abia and Akwa Ibom states.
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