By Ugonne Uzoma
Governor Hope Uzodimma of Imo on Friday, commended Management and Board of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), for their renewed vigour in developing the region.
Uzodimma gave the commendation at the unveiling of the commission’s 25th Anniversary Logo and the Niger Delta Sports Festival Mascot in Owerri.
Speaking at the ceremony, he congratulated the commission for surviving conflicting political interests for 25 years and delivering on their core mandate of bringing progress to the Niger Delta.
He described the commission as a leading agency in bringing the vision of the renewed hope project to fruition in record time, judging by their numerous completed projects .
He noted that their intervention in response to the agitation for development in the region, brought confidence and hope while boosting the production of crude oil.
The governor also expressed happiness at their partnership with states in the region, urging them to collaborate more with its people for needs assessments to ensure execution of projects which would bring more value to the beneficiaries.
He also commended the commission for organising the upcoming sports festival which he said, would engage youths of the area and help in reducing crime.
Earlier, the NDDC Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Dr Samuel Ogbuku, said the commission remained committed to achieving their core developmental mandate in the Niger Delta.
Ogbuku said the board and management of the commission had been working vigorously to change the narratives in the country’s oil producing region.
He added that the NDDC had engaged all stakeholders to ensure harmony and cooperation in the task of developing the Niger Delta region.
Speaking on the upcoming Niger Delta sports festival, he said it was an avenue to bring about regional integration to foster unity and cohesion.
He added that the event was designed to nurture young talents from the oil producing areas, adding that all necessary tools had been put in place to ensure its success.
In his speech, the Chairman of the Senate Committee on NDDC, Asuquo Ekpeyong said the upper chamber would continue to work closely with the NDDC to achieve a developed Niger Delta that would reflect aspirations of its people.(NAN)
