Sunday July 13, 2025
By TheNewsDESK |
The Akwa Ibom Governor, Pastor Umo Eno, has called for effective collaboration between the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) and state governments to unlock the full development potential of the region.
The Governor made this call on Saturday, July 12, 2025, in a goodwill message delivered at the 25th Anniversary celebration of the NDDC held at the Obi Wali International Conference Centre, Port Harcourt, Rivers State. Represented by the Commissioner for Culture and Tourism, Dr. Anietie Udofia, Governor Eno congratulated the Commission on reaching a significant milestone and urged its current leadership to build on its legacy through strategic, accountable partnerships with subnational governments.
“Twenty-five years ago, the NDDC emerged as a beacon of hope,” the Governor stated, “conceived from a collective yearning to transform our oil-rich region from being environmentally degraded and underdeveloped into a thriving zone of opportunity. Over the years, the Commission has made notable strides, with projects and programmes that stand as testaments to what focused effort can achieve.”
He particularly commended recent NDDC projects in Akwa Ibom State, such as the 6km Iko-Atabrikang-Akata-Opulom-Ikot Inwang-Okoroutip-Iwochang Road and the iconic 600-metre Ibeno Bridge, as well as rural electrification and youth development programmes. These, he said, are genuine impacts that have improved livelihoods in the region.
However, Governor Eno was urged the NDDC to explore means of surmounting the challenges of abandoned projects and delays in implementation. “While we celebrate achievements, we cannot ignore the persistent challenges. But I must commend the Commission under this present leadership for a job well done,” he added.
He used the platform to outline his administration’s readiness to partner with the Commission through the ARISE Agenda, Akwa Ibom’s development blueprint, now fully aligned with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda. The Governor identified strategic areas such as tourism, agriculture, rural transformation, and human capital development as key sectors where NDDC-state collaboration can yield exponential impact.
“I urge the current leadership of the NDDC to embrace an era of committed partnerships,” he said. “Let us elevate mutual trust by genuinely engaging state governments in every phase, from project conceptualization to execution and oversight to ensure every naira invested translates directly into visible, lasting development that truly changes lives.”
Governor Eno emphasized that the 25th anniversary should serve as a catalyst for a golden era of regional transformation—an opportunity to recommit to the original vision of the NDDC as a vehicle for inclusive, sustainable growth. “Let us collectively rededicate ourselves to building a Niger Delta that is prosperous, socially stable, and ecologically sustainable, a region where our children can grow, learn, and thrive in peace and harmony,” he concluded.
Dr. Udofia was accompanied by the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on NDDC Matters, Apostle Samuel Ekah.
The event was graced by notable Akwa Ibom dignitaries including the Senate President, Senator Godswill Akpabio; Senator Aloysius Etok; and Senator Ekong Sampson, alongside other stakeholders and regional leaders.
⬇️
www:thenewsdesk.ng
… modifying and setting the pace in online journalism practice.
For placement of adverts contact:
+2348023037437
