The Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) announced a new partnership with the Niger Delta Chamber of Commerce to train youths and aspiring entrepreneurs in the region. Speaking at a youth interactive forum organized by the NDDC in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Managing Director Dr. Samuel Ogbuku said the commission would collaborate with the Chamber to support small and medium‑scale enterprises. “We are considering setting up a Niger Delta Chamber of Commerce that will strengthen young entrepreneurs in the region,” he explained. “It is no longer acceptable that our youths stay at home receiving stipends. Therefore, we are converting the NDDC Youth Volunteer programme into Youth Internship Programmes, where youths will be attached to organisations for one year to learn skills.”
Ogbuku added that the Chamber of Commerce would help ensure the programme’s sustainability. “We will focus on empowering young entrepreneurs because the government cannot employ everybody. We will engage the youths to work for the benefit of everyone,” he said. He emphasized that the NDDC is seeking partnerships through stakeholder engagements to gather feedback from youths, interact with them, and discuss upcoming programmes. “The integration of ideas starts from the conception stage, so when the programme launches, stakeholders’ ideas are already incorporated. We believe that youths must contribute to whatever plans we have for them,” he noted.
Blessing Fubara, leader of the Rivers Youth Forum, urged the NDDC to make the Youth Interactive Forum a quarterly event, praising the current management for its demonstrated interest in the wellbeing of the people. In closing, NDDC Executive Director of Finance and Administration Major General Charles Airhiavbere (retired) assured the youths that the new ideas presented by the managing director have been incorporated into the commission’s 2024 budget.
Comments are closed for this story.