The Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), in collaboration with the Rivers State Government, is to revamp the government’s Information Communication and Technology, ICT, Centre for the training of youths in the State.
This was disclosed by the Commission’s Managing Director, Dr. Samuel Ogbuku during an inspection of the ICT facility in Port Harcourt, as this will create jobs for the youths through strategic partnership and skill development in the Niger Delta.
According to him: “What we are experiencing today is the dawn of reality. We have gone beyond planning and we are now collaborating with the states, as key stakeholders, to bring Project HOPE to reality. We believe that this process is sustainable.”
During the tour of the training facility which was led by the Director, Rivers State ICT Centre, Mrs Aleruchi Akani, Ogbuku promised that the NDDC would ensure the centre worked fully.
He also stated: “We believe that the projects under the Project HOPE is more holistic and sustainable. What we are doing here is partnering with the Rivers State Government to ensure that this ICT Centre is put into proper use. This Centre will be used effectively because through Project HOPE, we are looking at making the Niger Delta region a technology hub. Under Project HOPE, we are focusing on technology and agriculture.”
He appreciated the Rivers State Governor for approving the use of the ICT centre for the training of youths to upgrade the facility. He went further to state that this will be done in the nine states of the Niger Delta region.
He said: “One of our core visions is to make the Niger Delta a technology hub. This facility is going to compliment such efforts. If we empower our youths in technology, it will further strengthen sustainable development. Tech is one of the core areas of Project HOPE, alongside agriculture, because they help in job-creation. The government cannot create jobs for everyone.”
Also, the Commissioner for Youth Development, Dr. Chisom Gbali commended the NDDC for taking the initiative to partner the Rivers State Government, and this according to him, meant well for the future of youths in the Niger Delta region.
For he said this is the first time in a while that Rivers youths are benefitting from the Federal Government; Rivers youths are willing and yearning to absorb what is coming.
Also present during the tour was the Resource Person for project HOPE, Ambassador Blessing Fubara,
Speaking earlier, the Resource Person for Project HOPE, Ambassador Blessing Fubara, who disclosed while speaking that 37,000 youths have been registered since the commencement of the programme in August.
Fubara explained that “Project HOPE is designed to deploy the first Niger Delta Youth Potential Resources Database System, which is qualification, skills, interest, status and passion identification. This will then give us the parameter for employment generation, youth empowerment, and capacity development in the region.”
