The Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Dr Samuel Ogbuku, has reiterated the agency’s commitment to strengthening education in the Niger Delta region.
Ogbuku gave the assurance when he received the Vice Chancellor of Wigwe University, Professor Marwan Al-Akaidi, and his delegation during a courtesy visit to the NDDC headquarters in Port Harcourt.
According to a statement by NDDC’s Director of Corporate Affairs, Seledi Thompson-Wakama, the Commission has consistently supported higher institutions in the region through infrastructure development and scholarship schemes.
“It is not new for the NDDC to support universities; it is something we have been doing consistently,” Ogbuku said. “We have built hostels, classrooms, provided furniture, computers and more. We believe in supporting the best within the region.”
He described Wigwe University as a world-class addition to the region’s educational landscape, noting that its establishment aligns with the NDDC’s mission of uplifting the Niger Delta through strategic investment in education.
“For us at NDDC, partnering with Wigwe University is something we can do with joy because the people who will benefit from it are largely from the region,” Ogbuku added.
He also disclosed plans to launch a local postgraduate scholarship scheme, assuring that Wigwe University would be included among the beneficiary institutions. “If our students cannot go abroad, they should at least get the best education within Nigeria, and Wigwe University provides that opportunity,” he said.
Earlier, Vice Chancellor Prof. Al-Akaidi thanked the NDDC for its continuous support for education, stressing that the university was seeking a long-term partnership built on mutual growth and regional development.
“Our vision is to establish a university that is not only the best in Nigeria but also competitive across Africa and globally,” he said. He highlighted areas where NDDC’s intervention was needed, such as solar-powered street lighting and water supply, while also proposing that Wigwe University be considered a destination for the Commission’s scholarship beneficiaries.
Al-Akaidi emphasised that NDDC’s involvement would not only improve learning conditions but also uplift the quality of life within the host community.
“We are confident that the NDDC, as a champion of educational advancement, will support us not just in manpower development but also in providing infrastructure that enables world-class learning,” he added.
EduTimes Africa, a product of Education Times Africa, is a magazine publication that aims to lend its support to close the yawning gap in Africa's educational development.
