OGBUKU REAFFIRMS NDDC’S COMMITMENT TO BUSINESS GROWTH AND REGIONAL INDUSTRIALISATION
- Vincent
- 2026-09-25
The Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Dr Samuel Ogbuku, has reaffirmed the Commission’s commitment to supporting businesses, promoting enterprise development and fostering sustainable economic growth across the Niger Delta Region.
Speaking at the recently concluded Niger Delta Economic and Investment Summit 2026 (NDEIS 2026), Ogbuku disclosed that an initial ₦5 billion fund was being deployed through the Niger Delta Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Trade, Mines and Agriculture (NDCCITMA) to support businesses and strengthen enterprise development across the region.
He emphasised the importance of investing in the region’s most valuable asset—its people—through capacity development, skills enhancement and initiatives designed to promote greater economic participation.
According to Ogbuku, empowering individuals and businesses with the necessary knowledge, resources and opportunities is essential to unlocking the Niger Delta’s economic potential and building a more productive and resilient regional economy.
The NDDC Managing Director also called for increased collaboration among the Niger Delta states, proposing the establishment of a regional think tank to generate, develop and coordinate innovative ideas capable of driving industrialisation and sustainable economic transformation.
He noted that stronger cooperation among the states could facilitate the joint development of critical infrastructure, including power generation facilities, rail networks and regional road projects. Such initiatives, he explained, would enhance connectivity, strengthen economic integration and create an enabling environment for investment and industrial growth.
Ogbuku further expressed concern over the movement of capital out of the Niger Delta without commensurate local economic benefits, particularly in the areas of employment creation, enterprise development and value addition.
He stressed the need for strategies that would ensure greater value retention within the region, enabling local businesses, entrepreneurs and communities to benefit more meaningfully from the economic activities and investments taking place in the Niger Delta.
His remarks underscored the importance of coordinated investment, human capital development, strategic partnerships and regional cooperation in advancing the transformation of the Niger Delta into a more competitive and economically vibrant region.