NDDC ONBOARDS AGRIC SPECIMEN OF PROJECT HOPE WITH DONATION OF LANDS BY COMMUNITIES

BY GABRIEL OKECHUKWU, FRCN PORT HARCOURT

Niger Delta Development Commission NDDC, has launched the second phase of her signature youth and women empowerment initiative, Holistic Opportunities Programme of Engagement, christened Project Hope.

The Managing Director, Niger Delta Development Commission NDDC, Dr. Samuel  Ogbuku  who Declared  open the second phase during the onboarding of agricultural specimen of the programme in Port Harcourt Rivers State, said in addition to job creation and food security, the programme was in tune with the Renewd Hope Agenda of President Bola Tinubu. 

With over one million youths and women registered in the data base of the programme during first phase, the stage was  set to start the actual training and empowerment of youths. 

The pet project known as Holistic Opportunities Programme and  Engagement, Project Hope is an avenue created for youths and women of Niger Delta  region to register and indicate areas  of interest  to be trained and empowered to be self reliant. 

The beneficiaries would be trained in mechanized agriculture, technology, information and Communication Technology, ICT,  music and arts. 

While Declaring open the Onboarding of the agricultural specimen of the programme, The Managing Director Niger Delta Development Commission NDDC, Dr. Samuel Ogbuku was  optimistic  that apart from ensuring food security, the agricultural specimen would also create job opportunities. 

Dr. Ogbuku who  noted that there would be out grower scheme, where marketers would   buy off the agricultural produce from the farms, 

Insisted  that beneficiaries  must be registered on PROJECT HOPE platform. 

The MD  appreciated communities  that donated their lands, adding that they would be considered in project citing. 

Similarly, Executive Director Projects and  Chairman, Project Hope Implementation Committee, Sir Victor Antai described the initiative  as a life transforming venture, while the consultant of the programme, Ambassador Blessing Fubara explained that each of four pilot states of  Rivers, Akwa Iron, Bayelsa and IMO ceeded one hundred hectares of land for the programme. 

In his Contribution,  One of the  Community leaders from Rivers State, Dr.  Innocent Abali  described the initiative as unprecedented, saying it would take many youths off the streets. 

Other  community representatives expressed their readiness to collaborate with the commission to eliminate hunger in the land