NDDC Warns Against Misconduct Ahead Of Training for 10,000 Youths
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Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, Dr Samuel Ogbuku on Monday warned potential beneficiaries of the internship programme being initiated by the commission against truancy and other vices, saying the commission would not hesitate to wield the big stick against those who display negative characters in the course of the training.
Ogbuku said at the formal launch of the scheme meant to benefit 10,000 youths, that the internship was part of the empowerment programmes earmarked for youths from the region, in line with the renewed hope mantra of President Bola Tinubu.
Ogbuku said whereas 500 youths would be picked on merit from the nine states that make up the NDDC, placement would also be given to youths in the oil producing states based on the production quota of the states.
Saying that the selection process would be thorough, Ogbuku said the entire process would be done online, and ruled out the possibility of manipulations by anybody. He said even before Monday’s formal launch, no fewer than 100,000 applications have already been submitted to the online portal.
But he noted that all applications from people above the age of 45 would be rejected, as the scheme was meant for youths only. He praised the youths of Port Harcourt for refusing to be part of the on-going protest in the city.
According to him, the calmness of Port Harcourt and other parts of the Niger Delta was an indication that the region was the best place for investors to explore. He said whereas there were reported cases of violence in many part of the country, there was no violence in the Niger Delta, even though a few persons tried to exercise their rights to peaceful protest.
He said the decision to launch the scheme during the protest period was a way of testing the peaceful nature of Port Harcourt. To him, there were concerns that protesters could storm the venue and disrupt the programme.
“From what is happening both inside and outside this hall, you will agree with me that Port Harcourt is safe and violent free. There has been no report of violence from any part of the state as we speak. It goes to show that we are a peace loving people and we appreciate development initiatives,” Ogbuku noted.
