A coalition of women leaders in the Niger Delta region have expressed their full support to the Dr. Samuel Ogbuku-led management team and the Board of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).
The coalition also expressed gratitude to President Bola Tinubu for heeding to their calls for Ogbuku’s re-appointment as the managing director of the interventionist agency.
Speaking during a visit to the NDDC headquarters in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, leader of the coalition and frontline Niger Delta female activist, Ann-Kio Briggs, called for inclusion of women in every phase of development that is being planned and initiated by the commission.
Briggs appealed that adequate time be given to the Board that is peopled by a rare crop of dynamic and resourceful persons to enable them carry out their developmental template, which is founded on righting the wrongs of the past.
She lauded the NDDC Board for embarking on their novel initiatives such as Project Hope, the Niger Delta Chamber of Commence, the Niger Delta Investment Limited and also setting up of communal and infrastructure schemes targeted at introducing and completing abandoned and uncompleted projects.
The Niger Delta frontline female activist also warned detractors and agents of mischief to put a stop to such acts as they will hinder the progress of the region.
She urged Tinubu to release all funds owed the commission to enable them work assiduously for the growth and development of the region.
Responding, NDDC managing director, Dr. Samuel Ogbuku, expressed his appreciation to the women leaders and vowed that the Board will work with the people of the region as they strived to improve on the successes of past administrations.
Ogbuku assured the women leaders that President Tinubu has assured that he will ensure that the NDDC gets the needed funds to achieve the set objectives of the Commission.
He called for the need for all hands to be on deck to maintain peace as a panacea for development.
The NDDC boss informed the team that the commission has restarted the free medical care program for vulnerable people and families in the Niger Delta region and assured them that the NDDC will continue to light up the Niger Delta with solar-powered lights in the communities.