Nathan Tamarapreye, Yenagoa
A coalition of women groups in the Niger Delta region has commended the policies of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) to tackle poverty in the area.
The women’s groups pledged to support the policies being executed by the Managing Director of NDDC Dr. Sam Ogbuku, which they described as transparent and focused.
The women, under the auspices of the Coalition of Niger Delta Women Leaders, made this known in a statement issued on Sunday in Yenagoa.
The statement was jointly signed by Lady Annkio Briggs, National Leader, and Amb. Tombra Kasikoro Kiloprite, Secretary.
It urged stakeholders of the region to give their support to the NDDC board to enable them to succeed in their given assignment.
The group however warned that they will not tolerate any attempt by anyone to rundown the leadership strides of the Board.
They noted that this is the first time they are seeing visionary leadership at the helm of affairs of NDDC and the first time women are carried along in the scheme of things by the NDDC.
They appreciated the management of NDDC adding that all those who mean well for the region should queue behind the shining light that is changing the previous narrative.
They thanked President Bola Tinubu for reappointing the NDDC MD and members of the board who, they say, are all doing well to address the developmental setbacks bedevilling the region.
“We have some developmental plans and projects that will better the lives of women in the Niger Delta, and we want to do this by partnering with developmental and governmental agencies to ensure that women in rural communities are empowered.
“Also, we call on all Niger Deltans to give the NDDC Board the needed support to succeed, because over time, we’ve been clamouring for the constitution of the board.
“And since Mr. President has yielded to the yearnings of the people of the region and given us such kind-hearted personalities to run the NDDC, we must work with them to fulfil the mandate given to them.”
“NDDC Board has been addressing critical sectors of our region since they came onboard and the cooperation amongst them so far shows that they have the development of the region at heart.
“The programmes they are introducing have direct bearing on the people, and that is one of the things that can help to improve the standard of living of the people.
“Their community-based approach is commendable because it is at the community level that we see poverty biting very hard.
The assured that they are committed to working with the government towards building a safe and peaceful Niger Delta where businesses can thrive.
They urged all stakeholders to work together rather than heating up the polity.
“As a group, we assure the NDDC management team that the Coalition of Niger Delta Women Leaders will continue to partner with them to contribute our quota in ensuring that the region moves forward,” the women said.