According to a statement made available to Nigerian Tribune on Sunday, the chairman of the board, Senator Victor Ndoma-Egba, SAN, made this known when he led a delegation from NDDC to visit the Innoson factory at Nnewi, Anambra State.
He affirmed that the NDDC Board had, in its first meeting this year, approved a visit to the factory and the Innoson Kiara academy, a technical and vocational Institution established by an international consulting firm in partnership with Innoson Group, for training in different aspects of automobile maintenance.
He said NDDC would soon select 100 young men and women from the region to undergo the training to boost their skills, stressing the importance of manpower development.
“We believe that the real resource of any country is not its minerals but the young men and women of the country. However, they remain a resource only if they are trained, skilled and engaged. If they are not trained, skilled or engaged, instead of being a resource, they will become a curse.
“We don’t want our young men and women to be a curse. We prefer that they are resources so that they can contribute their own quota to the development of the Niger Delta region,” the statement read.
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The NDDC chairman commended the chairman of Innoson Group, Chief Innocent Chukwuma, for his faith and belief in Nigeria, adding, “We are highly impressed with what you have done. It is not just the facilities, but the spirit of what you have done.
“If we have a few more Nigerians with your level of believe in this country, we will be better off. Siting this massive investment in your community is a mark of faith not just in your people but also in your country.”
He also assured that NDDC would support Innoson Motors, wondering why governments at different levels would not patronise locally manufactured or assembled vehicles.
In his response, Chief Chukwuma said the remarks by the NDDC chairman would energise and encourage his company to put in more efforts in the quest to industrialise the country.
“We intend to open small factories in different parts of the Niger Delta too, among other things, employ those who have successfully gone through our trainings. I have challenged the trainees to put their best efforts because Innoson will offer them automatic employment in our factories,” he declared.
In another development, the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) has awarded scholarships to university level to all seven children of Sergeant Chukwudi Iboko, the policeman who lost his life while aborting an armed robbery attack on a bank in Owerri, Imo State, last year.
Managing Director of the Commission, Mr Nsima Ekere, announced this on Saturday after receiving the Public Service Award at the Sun Awards in Lagos.
He also announced the donation of one million naira to the family of the deceased who was equally honoured at the award ceremony as the Nigerian Hero of the Year.
Ekere said NDDC was working with state governments and security agencies to tackle what he called the very serious security challenges in the Niger Delta.
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