The Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Samuel Ogbuku, has announced that the commission will provide N30 billion as counterpart funding to support the newly established Niger Delta Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Trade, Mines and Agriculture (NDCCITMA).
This initiative aims to boost job creation and develop small-scale businesses in the region.
Speaking at the NDCCITMA sensitisation workshop in Akure, Ondo State, Ogbuku emphasized the importance of the chamber in tackling the socio-economic and political challenges in the Niger Delta.
Represented by Otitoju Atikase, Ondo State’s representative on the NDDC board, Ogbuku stated that the chamber will serve as a crucial link between the NDDC and the local population in creating jobs and supporting small businesses.
“When we came on board, the first thing we did was to evaluate what was on the ground and immediately came up with the idea of establishing the Niger Delta Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Trade, Mines and Agriculture,” Ogbuku said, according to a statement signed by NDDC’s Director of Corporate Affairs, Seledi Thomson-Wakama.
He added that the NDCCITMA initiative would focus on growing small and medium-scale enterprises (SMEs) and facilitating job opportunities in the region.
Dr. Solomon Edebiri, Secretary of the NDCCITMA board, also highlighted the initiative’s role in providing mentorship and support to small businesses. He noted that NDCCITMA would help small business owners access soft loans and foster development in the informal sector.
“This initiative will bring positive development, galvanising the informal sector and small business groups yearning for support,” Edebiri said. “NDCCITMA will be a rallying point, providing guidance and mentorship.”
The NDDC’s investment in NDCCITMA is expected to drive significant economic progress in the Niger Delta by addressing the region’s pressing economic needs and empowering small businesses to thrive.