The Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, Dr. Samuel Ogbuku, beckoned on development partners and donor agencies to join hands with the Commission to make the region prosperous.
Dr. Ogbuku made the appeal at the One-Day Policy Dialogue with Development Partners and Donor Agencies in Abuja, held in collaboration with the Ministry of Niger Delta.
He said: “We are here to appeal to you to consider the Niger Delta as your own. For donor agencies, we say, support us. For the development partners, we say join us to complete ongoing major projects. NDDC alone cannot develop the Niger Delta. We need more funding. We need support.”
Earlier, the NDDC Executive Director, Projects, Mr. Charles Ogunmola, in his welcome remarks, emphasised the need for joint efforts in developing the Niger Delta.
Ogunmola said: “The scale of infrastructural deficiency and human development gap in the Niger Delta is enormous. We realize that we cannot do this alone. So, we decided to look at other ways to address the deficiencies. This is the next in the series of meetings we will have with partners, to help us drive our agenda for the Niger Delta. On coming on board, we resolved that we must make a difference. I enjoin you to listen, let us reason together as you figure out how you want to partner with us in the great task ahead.”
The policy dialogue aims to achieve the following objectives:
To comprehensively map donor interventions and compile data on projects in the Niger Delta that complement the mandate of the NDDC. To establish a coordination framework by identifying gaps and ensuring alignment.
To ensure accountability, stakeholder participation, and adequate tracking of results.To define strategies of donor support that align the goals to NDDC objectives and community priorities to ensure sustainability and inclusivity.
NDDC