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Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) has inaugurated an Aquaculture Training Centre in Elugwu-Umuntu, Olokoro community in Umuahia South Local Government Area of Abia State, as part of its efforts to boost agriculture in the Niger Delta region.
Speaking during the commissioning, the NDDC Managing Director, Samuel Ogbuku, said agriculture was one of the key agendas of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration, saying: “This initiative is a strategic alignment with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), specifically targeting the eradication of poverty (SDG 1) and hunger (SDG 2).
“The centre is poised to become a cornerstone in these efforts, addressing these pressing global issues by empowering local communities through sustainable agriculture and skill development,” he said.
Ogbuku said agriculture was one of the sustainable means of empowering women and youths, through the creation of jobs in the country.
This approach reflects the broader SDGs strategy of promoting sustainable economic growth, providing decent work for all, and supporting resilient agricultural practices that contribute to the overall health and stability of the community, ensuring no one is left behind in economic development,” he said.
He assured the centre would address the challenges of unemployment by offering relevant training in aquaculture, promising that 50 youths from the Umuntu community would be enlisted for training in the centre.
The NDDC chief executive officer announced that facilities at the centre would be improved upon and expanded to provide the necessary training, as well as enhance development in the adjoining communities. He said the commitment to continuous improvement underscores the sustainability aspect of the SDGs, ensuring initiatives introduced are not only beneficial in the short term but also contribute to long-term sustainable development.
In his speech, the NDDC Director, Abia office, and Representative of the state on the Board of the Commission, Dimgba Eruba, commended the managing director for demonstrating dedication to the commission’s vision of providing the much-needed sustainable solution to the socio-economic challenges of the Niger Delta region.
This vision is in line with the SDGs’ holistic approach, which recognises the interconnectivity between economic growth, social inclusion, and environmental protection,” he said.
In an address read on behalf of the community by Ifeanyi Umekwe, they thanked the NDDC for siting the aquaculture training centre in their community. They also thanked their traditional euler, Paul Ogwubunka.
The NDDC Director, Agric and Fisheries, Winifred Madume, appealed to the benefitting communities to see the training centre as their own and protect it from vandals and thieves.
She said the sense of ownership and responsibility was crucial for the long-term sustainability of the initiatives designed to help achieve the SDGs to nsure the developments remain operative and productive for generations to come.
