BY GABRIEL OKECHUKWU FRCN PORT HARCOURT
The Managing Director, Niger Delta Development Commission NDDC, has assured youths of Niger Delta region of the determination of the Commission to incorporate their ideas in the programmes of the interventionist agency.
Dr. Ogbuku who made this known during an interactive session with youths of the region told them that the management is planning sustainable empowerment programmes for the youths.
The Managing Director challenged the youths to venture into Entrepreneurship since government cannot employ everybody.
He explained that management is coming up with Niger Delta Chamber of commerce, with the aim to support young entrepreneurs who will equally be able to employ other youths.
The Chief Executive Officer revealed that management is going to roll out youth internship scheme where the youths would be attached to different companies to learn skills for a period of six months or one year.
According to him, a public Private Partnership, ppp committee has been inaugurated to explore various partnership opportunities to guarantee sustainability of programmes.
The NDDC MD stated that a data portal would be floated and the youths will be required to fill in their qualifications and preferences from where they would be attached to different companies.
In his Contribution, Leader of Rivers Youths Forum, Mr. Blessing Fubara emphasized the need to have a comprehensive data base of Niger Delta Youths for easy assessment.
Similarly, a female Leader from Ijaw Youth Council, IYC Central Zone, Ebi Ayibakuro while expressing displeasure over what she termed marginalization of the female folks, suggested that the process of selecting beneficiaries be such that the females enjoy the same privileges as their male counterparts.
The youths Appreciated NDDC for the opportunity air their views.
The Interactive session which has in attendance youths from all the nine states covered by NDDC, was part of the first quarter assessment programme of current NDDC management board.
#pictures: NDDC NEW MEDIA
