The Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) is committed to fostering partnerships with financial institutions to facilitate access to financing for women, aiming to bolster their livelihoods and entrepreneurial endeavors.
During a recent courtesy visit by a delegation from Union Bank Nigeria to the NDDC headquarters in Port Harcourt, the Managing Director of the Commission, Dr. Samuel Ogbuku, pledged their commitment to empowering women in the Niger Delta Region. Dr. Ogbuku stated, “We are looking at providing single-digit loans to support the women. That is why we are supporting the Niger Delta Chamber of Commerce to build entrepreneurs. The Chamber of Commerce will help us share the risks and build a database, guiding the NDDC in establishing empowerment schemes. We are also creating structures to monitor the performance of the entrepreneurs.”
The NDDC’s registration of the Niger Delta Chamber of Commerce is part of their effort to expand the reach of their entrepreneurial empowerment programs in the region.
To expedite entrepreneurial growth and regional development, the NDDC has adopted the Public Private Partnership (PPP) model to provide alternative funding sources for key development projects and programs. Dr. Ogbuku emphasized, “The Niger Delta is the bedrock of the Nigerian economy, and we need peace for development to thrive in the region. We need to engage people to ensure peace. Women in the region are very industrious, but we need to strengthen them.”
Chidi Ileka, the Regional Business Executive, South, for Union Bank Nigeria, emphasized the importance of training and support for women’s business success. He expressed the bank’s eagerness to collaborate with the NDDC to further empower women in the Niger Delta region and address gender inequality while providing enhanced opportunities for women’s success.
Ileka highlighted the partnership’s goal to enable women to access finance, development programs, and affordable healthcare. He stated, “This initiative, founded on principles of gender equality and the desire to champion female empowerment, will equip women in the Niger Delta with the necessary tools and resources to achieve financial independence.”
Mrs. Chioma Nwokike, Head of Alpher and Women Lead Business in Union Bank, discussed the long-term financial security of women through savings and investment opportunities, enhancing their ability to save and invest. She outlined comprehensive business and personal development programs aimed at equipping women in the Niger Delta with the skills and knowledge needed for entrepreneurship and personal growth.
Nwokike also stressed the importance of affordable healthcare for women in the region, assuring that the partnership would strive to improve healthcare access for women, allowing them to focus on both personal and professional growth.
**Pius Ughakpoteni**
Director, Corporate Affairs
October 24, 2023
