Apostle Abasiandikan Nkono, who is the representative of Akwa Ibom State in the Governing Board of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), has identified education as a viable roadmap to changing the fortunes of Nigeria’s Niger Delta region.
NDDC is an interventionist agency set up by the Nigerian government to offer lasting solutions to the socio-economic problems of the Niger Delta by facilitating rapid and sustainable development of the region.
In a recent chat with newsmen, Apostle Nkono said some eligible indigenes of the region will soon benefit from a fully-funded overseas scholarship sponsored by the Commission.
This, according to him, would make the Niger Delta to be more governable, orderly and enlightened.
His words:
“Some intervention plans like scholarship is coming soon. The 2023 edition is gone, so we are looking forward to that of 2024.
“The former President of South Africa, Nelson Mandela, had said that an educated populace are the most easiest to lead. I really latch onto that sentiment.
“Problems in Nigeria today are in areas where we rarely see that people are rarely enlightened.
I thank God for the kind of Chairman, Managing Director and the management team who share that sentiment.”
The State Rep also revealed that science courses shall be the focus of this year’s scholarship.
“Some courses in arts are sometimes considered but the primary focus is sciences – those courses that drive the world now. If we can do this for our people, a lot of Niger Deltans will have cause to smile.
About NDDC
The Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) is a federal government agency established by Nigerian president Olusegun Obasanjo in the year 2000 with the sole mandate of developing the oil-rich Niger Delta region of Nigeria.
In September 2008, President Umaru Yar’Adua announced the formation of a Niger Delta Ministry, with the Niger Delta Development Commission to become a parastatal under the ministry.
One of the core mandates of the commission is to train and educate the youths of the oil rich Niger Delta regions to curb hostilities and militancy, while developing key infrastructure to promote diversification and productivity.
Its headquarters is in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
Its Governing Board Chairman is Chiedu Ebie while Chief Samuel Ogbuku is the Managing Director.
Abia, Akwa lbom, Bayelsa, Cross River, Delta, Edo, Imo, Ondo and Rivers States are currently the nine states under the NDDC.
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