The Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, has empowered 100 youths from across the Niger Delta region after a six-month intensive training in fashion and design.

Speaking during the graduation ceremony, the NDDC Managing Director, Dr Samuel Ogbuku, expressed joy at the milestone, stating that it would equip youths with creative skills and prepare them for a productive future.

He noted that the programme represented NDDC’s shift “from transaction to transformation,” focusing on sustainable empowerment rather than short-term interventions.

“We don’t believe in quantity; we believe in quality. In the past, we trained thousands for a few days and gave out starter packs. This time, we camped participants for six months to ensure real transformation,” Ogbuku said.

He urged the beneficiaries to remain innovative, confident, and to serve as ambassadors of the NDDC by using their craft to promote growth and development within the Niger Delta and beyond

The NDDC boss explained that the trainees were selected from the Commission’s digitised database based on competence and interest, adding that NDDC would continue to monitor their progress to assess the programme's impact.

“With the skills you have acquired, you have been empowered. Go out there, make your families proud, make Nigeria proud, and make the Niger Delta proud,” he charged.

Ogbuku remarked that the next phase of the Commission’s youth empowerment initiative would focus on Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) to prepare youths for opportunities in Nigeria’s energy transition.

Also speaking, the NDDC Executive Director, Projects, Dr Victor Antai, said the programme aligns with the Commission’s commitment to human capital development, wealth creation, and reduction of social vices in the Niger Delta.

He highlighted other recent empowerment initiatives, including training in welding and fabrication, as well as industrial skills such as scaffolding and pipefitting.

“We are not only training youths for self-reliance, we are also equipping them with industrial sewing machines, generators, and logistics support to help them start their businesses,” Antai said.

Speaking in the same vein, the NDDC Executive Director, Finance and Administration, Alabo Boma Iyaye, described the fashion industry as a growing global market and urged the beneficiaries to remain innovative and committed to excellence.

In his remarks, the Executive Director, Corporate Services, Hon. Ifedayo Abegunde, encouraged the graduates to apply their skills productively, saying, “You have not been given fish to eat, but you have been taught how to fish.”

The training consultant, Mr. Greg Daniel, commended NDDC for the initiative, noting that most participants began the programme with no prior experience but now possess the skills to operate industrial machines and the knowledge to establish a thriving fashion business.

One of the beneficiaries, Miss Grace Nwaechefom, expressed appreciation to the NDDC and its partners for empowering them to become self-reliant, describing the initiative as a life-changing opportunity.

•PHOTO: NDDC Managing Director/CEO, Dr Samuel Ogbuku (3rd right), speaking during the handover of Starter packs to beneficiaries of the fashion and design training in Port Harcourt. With him are the NDDC Executive Director, Finance and Administration, Hon. Boma Iyaye (4th left); the NDDC Executive Director, Projects, Dr Victor Antai (2nd right) and the NDDC Executive Director, Corporate Services, Hon. Ifedayo Abegunde (1st right).