Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala
By Maureen Dick
THE Director-General of the World Trade Organisation (WTO), Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, has stated that the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), has a big responsibility to the people of Niger Delta region.
Okonjo-Iweala said this when she delivered keynote address on the plenary theme “Transmitting Vision to Reality for the Sustainable Development of the Niger Delta Region”, marking the 25 years anniversary of NDDC, held in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, on Saturday.
The Director-General of WTO emphasised the importance of turning vision into tangible achievements.
She noted the significant achievements the commission has recorded in the past 25 years, charging it that more needs to be done for the region.
She said: “The NDDC has a huge responsibility to the people of the Niger Delta. The significance of today’s celebration must translate into real, measurable impact. You have done a lot of work, but much more needs to be done.”
Dr. Okonjo-Iweala added that the best service the Commission could render was to deploy available resources for the transformation of the region.
The Chairman of the NDDC Governing Board, Mr. Chiedu Ebie, highlighted the evolution of the Commission’s leadership over the years, stating that the current Board had prioritised stakeholder engagement as a key tool for inclusive development.
In his address, the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the NDDC, Dr. Samuel Ogbuku, described the silver jubilee as the beginning of a new era.
He said: “This anniversary marks the dawn of a new beginning; not just for the NDDC, but for the entire Niger Delta region.”
Also speaking, the pioneer Chairman of the NDDC Board, Chief Onyema Ugochukwu, congratulated the Commission on reaching 25 years, noting that one of its challenges had been frequent leadership changes, which he hoped would now be a thing of the past.