The Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) has taken a significant step in its ambitious Project HOPE (Holistic Opportunity Projects of Engagement) by deploying 370 collation officers and supervisors from the 185 local government areas across the nine Niger Delta states. Their mission: to facilitate the registration of young people who stand to benefit from this groundbreaking initiative.
The deployment ceremony, which marked a pivotal moment for the youth of the Niger Delta, took place at the Rivers State Information, Communication, and Technology (ICT) Centre in Port Harcourt. Dr. Samuel Ogbuku, the Managing Director of NDDC, charged the collation officers and supervisors with the responsibility of ensuring a transparent and equitable registration process.
Project HOPE is designed to create a comprehensive resource database of the youth population in the Niger Delta region. The goal is to provide a platform for empowering the region’s youth on a sustainable basis, fostering their growth and development.
Dr. Ogbuku emphasized the importance of this initiative, especially in light of past project execution issues in the region. He stressed that Project HOPE would focus on understanding the needs, qualifications, skills, passions, interests, and employment status of the youth, making it a holistic effort to uplift them.
“The HOPE initiative is real and will be sustained,” declared Ogbuku. “The database that we are building will not only help us to select the right persons, but it will also help us to monitor their progress. We are using technology to ensure that you do not need to know anybody to be enlisted into the programme.”
Dr. Chisom Kenneth Gbali, the Rivers State Commissioner for Youth Development, commended the NDDC for the transparent selection process of the HOPE project. He emphasized that such programs should serve as examples of capacity building, and he encouraged the collation officers and supervisors to extend their knowledge to others. The Rivers State Government showed a strong commitment to the initiative.
Ambassador Blessing Fubara, the consultant for NDDC Project HOPE, expressed gratitude to the NDDC for launching this innovative youth empowerment program. She pledged her cooperation to ensure the success and sustainability of the initiative.
In response, Mr. Azibator Azimo, a trainee from Ogbia Local Government, extended his appreciation on behalf of the Collation Officers and Supervisors. He lauded the NDDC for providing the opportunity to contribute to the comprehensive youth development database. Mr. Azimo underlined that he was selected without any preferential treatment, stating, “I did not know anyone. It was God that did it for me.”
The deployment of collation officers and supervisors is a significant milestone in the NDDC’s ongoing efforts to empower the youth of the Niger Delta region. As Project HOPE continues to unfold, it represents a beacon of hope for the region’s young population, emphasizing transparency, equity, and technology-driven solutions for their development.
For more information, please contact:
Pius Ughakpoteni
Director, Corporate Affairs
Niger Delta Development Commission
