Jubilation as NDDC Light-up Rivers Community

Blessing Ibunge in Port Harcourt

The people of Omerelu community in Ikwerre Local Government Area of Rivers state, were thrown into jubilation yesterday, following the inauguration of a Hybrid Solar-powered streetlights installed across villages in the community by the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).

In line with its project titled “Operation Light Up Niger Delta”, NDDC provided the solar power to mitigate the once darkness-ridden Omopi – Omerelu community.

During the unveiling of the project, THISDAY observed that the community people gathered in their numbers, including, their Council of Chiefs, CDC, Women’s group, Youth group, and others, with different kinds of traditional musical groups displaying different dance skills.

Inaugurating n the project, the Rivers State Representative on the NDDC Board, Mr Tony Okocha, said  it will provide economic value to the community, reduce criminal activities, and also provide an aesthetic night view in the community.

Okocha thanked the Board and Management of the NDDC, headed by Mr Chiedu Ebie and Dr Samuel Ogbuku, respectively, “for rewriting the history of NDDC from widely being viewed as a cash cow to a vibrant and vivacious interventionist agency that is attracting immeasurable people-oriented projects to the good people of the Niger Delta”.

He thanked the community for the hospitality and support they accorded the contractor that handled the project, which resulted in the completion of the project in stipulated time.

In appreciation, Chairman of Omerelu Council of Chiefs, Chief L. O. Didia, thanked the NDDC Board, particularly, the Rivers State Representative on the NDDC Board, for bringing the project to the community. He also thanked their son, Dr. Anosike Orduwa, for attracting the project to the community.

Meanwhile, the Commission has disclosed that communities spread across four states of the Niger Delta region have donated parcels of land to NDDC, for the agricultural component of its Holistic Opportunities for Programme and Engagement, Project HOPE.

Speaking at the on-boarding exercise at the NDDC Headquarters in Port Harcourt, the Managing Director of NDDC, Dr Ogbuku, said the formal engagement with the communities spread across four states of the region, (Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Imo and Rivers) was preparatory to the commencement of the second phase of Project HOPE, expected to kick-off in June.

He explained that Project HOPE was born out of the Renewed hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration, stating: “The programme is holistic because it is all-encompassing and sustainable.”

According to Ogbuku, Project HOPE was designed to develop an exhaustive digital repository comprising vital information about the youths of the Niger Delta region, including their qualifications, skills, interests, needs and current employment status.

He said that the database would serve as a plank for data-driven planning, enabling the formulation of impactful policies and programmes targeted at the youths.