Agency calls for compulsory education for girl-child
Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Samuel Ogbuku, has said that the agency is seeking to raise N1 trillion to fund critical projects in 2024.
He said that the commission plans to source the money through borrowing from commercial and development banks. Ogbuku stated this, yesterday, while defending the commission’s N1.91 trillion 2024 budget before the House of Representatives Committee on NDDC.
The NDDC boss also said that the commission hopes to receive the sum of N170 billion, being arrears owed it by the Federal Government and recoveries by government agencies, a Federal Government statutory contribution of N324.8billion, an ecological fund of N25 billion, oil companies contribution of N375 billion, and an Internally Generated Revenue of N1 billion.
According to him, the commission planned to fund its legacy projects with N1 trillion to be borrowed from the banks, while about N835. 222 billion will be spent on other development projects.
Ogbuku noted that the current management of the agency is re-navigating its process of intervention by adopting a Public-Private-Partnership model, as a vehicle to drive sustainable development in the region.
He said that the commission is also partnering with the Industrial Training Fund (ITF) to gainfully engage youths of the region to reduce crime, and economic sabotage.
He added that through its free medical mission, the NDDC has provided health services to more than two million persons in the region, stressing that it would partner with stakeholders to invest meaningfully in the healthcare sector for the development of the Niger Delta.
MEANWHILE, the NDDC, at the weekend, called for prioritisation of education of the girl-child, as it holds the key to sustainable development in the country.
Chairman of NDDC, Chiedu Ebie, said that as a pivotal segment of the population, educating the girl child empowers women to succeed in all areas of life. He was represented by his Special Assistant, John C. Aleh.
Ebie, a former Secretary to Delta State Government (SSG), therefore, urged the various tiers of government to evolve measures that will enable the girl child secure access to quality education.
For Ben Utalor Goziem, women are the heart of the nation; hence, they should be equipped with sound education. She said: “It is very important for the girl child to be educated. A good education is a foundation for the girl-child. An educated woman possesses so many attributes that will make her survive tomorrow’s challenges.”
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