Sharon IKECHUKWU
The Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) has promised to renovate the historic Memorial Hall of King J.T. Princewill, Amachree VII, in Buguma, Rivers State, to preserve the cultural heritage of the Kalabari people.
The NDDC Managing Director, Dr Samuel Ogbuku, announced the plan during a visit to the Kalabari Traditional Rulers Council at the palace of the Regent of the Kalabari Kingdom, Chief Charles Numbere Princewill, in Buguma.
Ogbuku led a delegation of the Commission’s management and staff, alongside former officials of the defunct Oil Mineral Producing Areas Development Commission (OMPADEC), to pay their last respects to the late Pa Albert Korubo Horsfall, the pioneer chairman of OMPADEC.
He described the death of Horsfall as a great loss to his family, the Kalabari Kingdom and the entire Niger Delta region, noting his contributions to the development of the region through his leadership at OMPADEC.
Speaking on the renovation project, Ogbuku said the Commission’s responsibilities went beyond building roads, bridges and other infrastructure to include protecting the history and cultural identity of communities in the Niger Delta.
“Our development mandate goes beyond the construction of roads, bridges, and other physical infrastructure. It also entails preserving our history, culture, and heritage, which are essential to our identity as a people. We must ensure that these enduring legacies are protected and sustained for present and future generations,” he said.
He described the Memorial Hall as an important symbol of the history and traditional heritage of the Kalabari people.
Ogbuku added that the renovation would restore the facility and make it a source of pride for residents and visitors.
“The rehabilitation project aims to restore the facility into a beacon of historical pride for community members and visitors alike,” he said.
In his response, the Regent of the Kalabari Kingdom, Chief Charles Numbere Princewill, thanked the NDDC delegation for honouring the late elder statesman. He also welcomed the Commission’s decision to renovate and preserve the kingdom’s historic landmark.
