NDDC LAUNCHES PROJECT HOPE, TO CREATE TEN THOUSAND JOBS IN NIGER DELTA REGION
DR. OGBUKU AND AMBASSADOR FUBARA IN A HAND SHAKE AS EDP, OGUNMOLA WATCHES
BY BABRIEL OKECHUKWU, FRCN PORT HARCOURT
Niger Delta Development Commission NDDC has launched a new youth empowerment and capacity building programme tagged, Holistic Opportunity Project of Engagement, HOPE.
The Managing Director NDDC, Dr. Samuel Ogbuku who performed the symbolic flag off at the commission’s Corporate Headquarters Marine Base, Port Harcourt Rivers State, said that the programme christened “Project Hope” would generate ten thousand Jobs in the Niger Delta region.
One of the major desires of the present management of Niger Delta Development Commission NDDC is to satisfy the yearnings of the youth of Niger Delta region, who have been expectant over the years a Leeway out of their economic quagmire.
The launching of the youth empowerment programmes, christened Project Hope, appears to be the magic wand that would equip the youths with necessary skills for economic emancipation.
Speaking while flagging off the project at NDDC Headquarters, the Managing Director, Dr. Samuel Ogbuku explained that project Hope, which means Holistic Opportunity Project of Engagement, would provide a platform for data collection of all the youths of Niger Delta region, their interests, skills and projections.
Dr. Ogbuku who emphasized the need for a data base for proper planning, gave assurance that youths would be trained in various areas they have indicated interests.
While maintaining that selection would be devoid of politics and nepotism, the MD expressed optimism that project Hope would create ten thousand Jobs, being one thousand Jobs for each of the oil producing states that made up NDDC.
The Chief executive officer of the Interventionist agency condemned the tradition that held sway in the past, whereby a certain group of persons kept benefiting from almost all the opportunities to the detriment of others.
Dr Ogbuku who told the people that the programme would focus on agro allied production, technology and ICT, enjoined the youths to leverage on the various opportunities therein.
On her part, the Director Skills Development and Empowerment, Mrs. Winifred Madume, who Said that the project was to gather holistic information about the youths, gave assurance that Process of selection would be transparent.
Giving details and timelines of the projects, The creative Director Ambassador Blessing Fubara said that the programme would be in two phases, assessment and engagement.
The engagement according to him would be in line with Public Private Partnership PPP, model to liaise with partners and access funding.
Ambassador Fubara noted that a lot has been done by NDDC, but because there was no assessment and monitoring, it cannot be really accounted for.
He revealed that focus in each state would be specific areas where it has comparative advantage such as, Agriculture and fishing for Rivers, Banana, plantain and snail for Bayelsa while Delta would have auto mobile.
The creative director who assured that a well actionable programme has been put in place, appreciated NDDC for the initiative
