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Hope project: NDDC deploys 370 collation officers, supervisors

The Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) has deployed 370 collation officers and supervisors from the 185 local government areas across the nine Niger Delta states.

This deployment aims to facilitate the registration of youths who will benefit from the Holistic Opportunity Projects of Engagement (HOPE) project.

During the deployment ceremony at the Rivers State Information, Communication, and Technology (ICT) Centre in Port Harcourt, Dr Samuel Ogbuku, the Managing Director of NDDC, charged the collation officers and supervisors to ensure the transparent registration of youths, following the established process by the Commission.

Ogbuku highlighted that the youth development and empowerment scheme aims to create a comprehensive resource database of the youth population in the Niger Delta region.

This initiative will provide a platform for sustainable youth empowerment.

He emphasized that Project HOPE, launched on July 12, 2023, is here to stay, despite initial doubts about its feasibility. Ogbuku praised the dedication of the collation officers and supervisors, who come from various local government areas in the region, selected through a strictly online process, ensuring transparency.

“The HOPE initiative is real and will be sustained. The database we are building will not only help us select the right individuals but also monitor their progress. We are leveraging technology to ensure that no nepotism is involved in the program,” he stated.

Dr Chisom Kenneth Gbali, the Rivers State Commissioner for Youth Development, commended the transparency of the selection process and the NDDC’s commitment to the program. He urged the collation officers and supervisors to extend their training to others, underscoring the Rivers State Government’s strong support for the initiative.

Ambassador Blessing Fubara, the consultant for the NDDC Project HOPE, expressed gratitude to the NDDC for pioneering this innovative youth empowerment project. Fubara pledged full cooperation to ensure the program’s success and sustainability.

In response on behalf of the Collation Officers and Supervisors, Mr Azibator Azimo, representing Ogbia Local Government, expressed his gratitude to the NDDC for providing them with the opportunity to contribute to building a comprehensive database for youth development.

He emphasised that the selection process was fair, and he was not assisted in any way, stating, “I did not know anyone; it was by the grace of God that I was selected.”

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