Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, Dr Samuel Ogbuku, says the Commission is ready to partner with Port Harcourt Club, to boost social activities in the Rivers State.

This as the NDDC boss restated the determination of the Commission to establish collaborative relationships and focus on governance, as part of its commitment to transformative change in the Niger Delta region.

He said the Commission was open to a sustainable relationship that would bring back the past glory of Port Harcourt city, so that the older generation will be proud that in their time the social life in the Garden City was revived.

On the other hand, the USAID delegation from the Peace and Democratic Governance, PDG, programme, included the Office Director, Daniel Morris, who connected virtually; Deputy Director, Melissa Desai; Programme Specialist, Aisha Shehu; and Governance Specialist, Machill Maxwell.

The NDDC Chief Executive Officer noted that the meeting was aimed at exploring collaborative strategies that aligned with several United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, SDGs. Specifically, the discussions mirrored the aspirations of SDG 16, which focuses on promoting peace, justice, and building strong institutions, and SDG 17, which advocates for partnerships to achieve these goals.

The NDDC Chief Executive Officer recalled with nostalgia the serene atmosphere created by the older generation, insisting that such beautiful scenery would be revived to keep the old memories alive.

According to him the present generation would not allow social activities in the city to stagnate or retrogress, promising to galvanise progressive residents of the city to pull resources together to build a society that would be stronger and socially active.

He stated these during a meeting with Executive members of the club in PortHarcourt and also a meeting with representatives of the United States Agency for International Development, USAID, at the United States Embassy in Abuja respectively.

The NDDC Managing Director, Dr Samuel Ogbuku, stressed the need to rebuild public trust and enhance service delivery in the Niger Delta region.

The President of the Port Harcourt Club, Hon. Soberekon Dikibo, while congratulating Chief Ogbuku on his reappointment as the Managing Director of the NDDC, applauded President Ahmed Bola Tinubu, for making the right choice and described him as a true Port Harcourt man.

Ogbuku said that the new management of NDDC was keen on doing things differently, stating that the new approach signified a commitment from the Commission to revitalise its image and operations and align itself more closely with global sustainable development objectives.

The NDDC boss briefed the USAID team about several ongoing reforms and programmes the Commission had embarked on, including “Project Hope, which is building a comprehensive database of young people in the Niger Delta to ensure that a solid foundation is built for interventions without undue political interferences.”

He also briefed the team about the progress of the ongoing assessment by KPMG, which is now producing a standard operating procedure (SOP) to cover all aspects of the Commission’s activities and transactions.

Ogbuku informed the USAID of the willingness of the Commission to partner with the agency in every area that could empower the women and youth of the region in order to sustain the peaceful atmosphere currently enjoyed in the region. He pointed out specific areas like agriculture, technology, climate change and potential windows through which the agency could explore cooperation in a mutually beneficial manner.

The USAID Office Director, Daniel Morris, commended the proactive efforts of the NDDC, noting that it was indicative of a shift from traditional practices. He expressed enthusiasm over the Commission’s quest to establish productive partnerships. (Guardian)