Onochie says NDDC will empower Niger Delta women, youths
Port Harcourt -- Mrs. Lauretta Onochie, the chairman of the governing board of the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, has pledged the commission’s commitment to initiating projects and programmes to empower women and youths in the Niger Delta region.
Speaking during a courtesy visit by a delegation from the Ijaw Community in Abuja and Northern Nigeria at the commission's headquarters in Port Harcourt, Onochie stated that the governing board of the NDDC was determined to change the narrative in the Niger Delta.
The NDDC chairman commended the association for being proactive in their efforts to alleviate the challenges facing rural communities in the region, especially the women.
"We are here to empower our people as part of NDDC’s sustainable development programmes. We are not going to be throwing money at stakeholders as a means of addressing challenges facing the Niger Delta region.
"I am impressed to see bridge builders here. They are changing the narrative. We will work with you and get everyone involved in our activities," she stated.
Earlier, the chairman of the association, Hon. Alagba
Ebifemowei, said the group was focused on building bridges between the ethnic nationalities in Nigeria.
“Our interest is to seek empowerment programmes that will help the rural women in the Niger Delta. Our goal is to build peaceful coexistence among Nigerians. Most of the projects in the Niger Delta target only men, neglecting rural women in the region. Our programmes must include women and that is why we have been focusing on building the capacity of women in the rural communities," he said.
Ebifemowei, who maintained that the association was ready to partner with the NDDC to empower rural women, presented the group’s proposals for sustainable development to the NDDC chairman.