NDDCCITMA, child of necessity for sustainable regional development – NDDC boss
Ogbonnaya Ikokwu, Umuahia
The Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Dr Samuel Ogbuku, says the organisation resolved to use the Chambers of Commerce as a tool to develop the region and empower the people.
Ogbuku said this at a workshop organised in Umuahia on Friday to sensitise the Abia people on the launch of the Niger Delta Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Trade, Mines and Agriculture (NDCCITMA).
He described the Chambers as “a child borne out of sincere desire to find lasting solution to the challenges plaguing businesses in the Niger Delta region.”
He said that the present board of the commission from inception was committed to ensuring that development was brought to the region “through genuine processes of economically empowering them.
He said, “One of the numerous ways we have designed is the use of Chambers of Commerce as a tool for development, knowing the impact it can create in the business communities.
“In our avowed commitment to reposition the capital and investment potentials of the region and provide a sustainable structure and platform through which established entrepreneurs, innovators and struggling businesses can advance their aspirations, we decided to promote NDCCITMA.
“Our intention is to have NDCCITMA stand in the gap between NDDC and entrepreneurs to provide a long-sought support to sustain the business of those who cannot meet the stringent conditions of financial institutions”.
Ogbuku, represented by the Abia Director of NDDC, Mr Azubuike Nwubani, said that the commission would work closely with NDCCITMA “to design a pathway to prosperity for the people”.
In a speech, the pioneer Chairman of NDCCITMA, Amb. Idaere Ogan, said that the establishment of the chambers “is consistent with major strategic objectives of the region
“The people of the region have longed for a forum where they can seek genuine guidance and assistance in developing their businesses and scaling up capabilities.
“Interestingly, NDCCITMA has properly represented the entire business sectors of the region touching on commerce, industry, trade, mines and agriculture,” he said.
Ogan, represented by the Secretary of NDCCITMA, Dr Solomon Edebiri, said that the primary objective of the chambers is to work as development partners to the NDDC in pursuing its vision for the region, implement its mandate and bring development to the people.
He pledged to abide by the Memorandum of Understanding established between NDDC and NDCCITMA in piloting the affairs of the chambers.
“It is obvious that the birth of
NDCCITMA will positively contribute to the growth of our Niger Delta economy and bring posterity to the people,” Ogan said.
Also, the Executive Director – Projects in NDDC, Mr Victor Antai, said the workshop was organised to raise awareness about the establishment of NDCCITMA and explore the vast opportunities it offers across the region.
Antai said: “We recognise that many businesses in our region, particularly small-scale enterprises, are struggling.
“It is concerning that nano and micro-level businesses are almost non-existent.
“To bridge the gaps and stimulate economic growth from the grassroots level, we have entered into a strategic partnership with NDCCITMA.
“This collaboration aims to engage these smaller business groups and develop sustainable models to elevate them.”
He said that members of NDCCITMA’s Board of Directors were people of proven track records in their fields, carefully selected from the nine NDDC states.
The Abia representative on the Board of NDDC, Chief Dimgba Eruba, commended the NDDC boss for the visionary and quality leadership he had brought to the commission.
Eruba also described Ogbuku as one whose passion for the genuine and sustainable development of the region was second to none.
He admonished the Abia participants at the workshop to leverage the opportunity provided by NDCCITMA to grow their small and large-scale businesses to greater heights.
The President of Aba Chamber of Commerce (ACCIMA), Chief Geoffrey Udeagbara, former President of the Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture, Chief John Udeagbala, and Chairman of the Nigerian Association of Small and Medium Enterprises (NASME) in Abia, Mr Linus Eze, attended the event.
In a goodwill message, Udeagbala, who facilitated the registration of NDCCITMA said he felt fulfilled that it had finally been inaugurated.
Also, Udeagbara of ACCIMA expressed happiness that city chambers in the region would leverage the robust NDCCITMA platform to accomplish projects they could ordinarily not be able to execute on their own.
Eze said that NASME would be the greatest beneficiary of NDCCITMA, if only the organisation would help to eliminate the stringent condition for accessing funds to grow their businesses from commercial banks.