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From Stanley Uzoaru, Owerri
The Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), has launched a capacity building programme for stakeholders across the Niger Delta Region, focusing on community ownership and protection of NDDC projects.
Executive Director, Corporate Services of NDDC, Ifedayo Abegunde, in his address at the opening ceremony held in Owerri, the Imo State capital, emphasised that the engagement is a deliberate step towards empowering communities to take ownership of NDDC projects.
He highlighted the commission’s two decades of commitments to facilitating sustainable development in the region through infrastructure provision and youth development initiatives.
Abegunde noted that project sustainability is crucial, citing instances where setbacks have delayed progress and diminished returns on investments.
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He further noted that the commission is committed to strengthening engagement frameworks that empower communities to participate effectively in project ownership and protection.
Earlier, the State Director of NDDC, Patrick Obayelu, urged communities to take responsibility for protecting NDDC projects, encouraging youths to report any acts of vandalism. The Project Director, Ovie Mathias emphasised the need for a culture of ownership, citing examples of vandalised solar lights and urging communities to protect projects for future generations.
He told the participants that a monitoring team would be engaged to monitor most of the projects to safeguard them for the future.
While advising the stakeholders, he also regretted that youths from their area contribute to abandonment of projects especially by demanding money from the contractors.
“I want to urge the youths from the communities to desist from demanding money from the contractors; the era of collecting money is gone, they need quality projects. Their actions have led to abandonment of projects,” Ovie said.
