Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) has expressed its commitment to supporting young entrepreneurs in the Niger Delta region by implementing targeted skill development initiatives aimed at fostering sustainable development.
During a courtesy visit to the NDDC headquarters in Port Harcourt by a delegation from the Coalition of South-South Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines, and Agriculture (COSSCCIMA), the Managing Director, Dr. Samuel Ogbuku, emphasized the importance of establishing a comprehensive database for youth empowerment.
Dr. Ogbuku clarified that the registration of the Niger Delta Chamber of Commerce, an initiative led by NDDC, is not intended to compete with COSSCCIMA’s efforts but rather to extend the reach of NDDC’s entrepreneurial empowerment programs. He stated, “I want to assure you that the Niger Delta Chamber of Commerce will not undermine your activities. It will rather complement your contributions. Ordinarily, we would have jumped into partnership with COSSCCIMA, but we felt that doing so will limit us to just six states, while our mandate covers nine states.”
He highlighted that supporting the growth and development of young entrepreneurs in the Niger Delta region would lead to job creation for the region’s youth population, aligning with NDDC’s commitment to improving economic prosperity through entrepreneurship development.
Dr. Ogbuku also mentioned that the NDDC is actively developing an extensive digital repository containing vital information about the youth in the Niger Delta region, including their qualifications, skills, interests, needs, and current employment status. This database will serve as a foundation for data-driven planning, enabling the formulation of impactful policies and programs targeting youth development.
In response, the President of COSSCCIMA, Dr. Okon Emah, expressed the trade group’s readiness to collaborate with the NDDC, as its members are spread across the six states of the South-South region. Dr. Emah stated, “COSSCCIMA is the umbrella body of the private sector and Chambers of Commerce in the six states of the South-South geo-political zone of Nigeria. It enables the private sector in the region to articulate and have a common perspective on issues and policies that affect the economy of the region. Our members offer services that will not only help in your development activities but also assist in poverty alleviation, job creation, and sustainable wealth creation.”
Dr. Emah assured that COSSCCIMA would collaborate with the NDDC in skills and apprenticeship development and provide due diligence on service providers.
The NDDC remains committed to enhancing economic prosperity in the Niger Delta region through these collaborative efforts with COSSCCIMA to empower and support young entrepreneurs.
