The representative of Kogi Central Senatorial District, Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, has expressed appreciation for the partnership between the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) and the Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG) in advancing local content initiatives.
Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan’s commendation follows the recent signing of a Memorandum of Understanding aimed at collaborating on various fronts to facilitate sustainable development projects in the region, in alignment with the principle of local content.
During the interactive session between the Senate Committee on Local Content and the Managing Director of NDDC, Samuel Ogbuku, Senator Natasha urged the commission to consider employing its trained workforce for effective service delivery.
In her capacity as the Chairperson of the Senate Committee on Local Content, Senator Natasha emphasized the need for NDDC to focus on capacity building and equipping the youth in the region.
She stated, “NDDC should prioritize the employment of its trained workforce. Artisans and skilled professionals such as ICT workers can be absorbed by NDDC contractors, thereby facilitating the commission’s engagement with the most vulnerable and marginalized youth.”
Furthermore, Senator Natasha pledged to collaborate with NDDC on creating a comprehensive database of artisans across the country, with the aim of reinforcing the workforce and consequently fostering microeconomic growth for Nigeria.
She affirmed her committee’s commitment to leveraging innovative strategies for tangible outcomes, stating, “We are in the process of developing a database comprising meticulously profiled artisans who have received training from NDDC, SMEDAN, among others, and establishing frameworks for oil and gas companies, as well as government contractors, to recruit from this pool of verified workforce.”
In response, the Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission assured of the commission’s readiness to collaborate with the Senate Committee on Local Content in devising strategies to engage trained professionals and create employment opportunities.
