A total of 300 youths from the Niger Delta region have successfully graduated from the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) Technical Skills Training Programme, with specializations in pipe fitting, scaffolding, forklift operations, and sand blasting.

Speaking at the graduation ceremony held at the NDDC Event Centre in Port Harcourt, the Executive Director of Projects, Dr. Victor Antai, said the initiative was designed to “curb restiveness, create employment, and reduce poverty among the people.”

The program, he explained, was part of the Commission’s efforts to build human capacity in the region while also meeting the manpower needs of the oil and gas sector. Antai, who represented the Managing Director, Dr. Samuel Ogbuku, stressed, “It is noteworthy that we are gathered to celebrate the graduation of youths from the Niger Delta region who have been trained to acquire skills in pipe fitting, scaffolding, forklift operations, and sand blasting—to learn and to benefit from a program such as this. This is in line with the provisions of Section 7 of the NDDC Establishment Act 2000, as amended.”

Antai further noted that the program aligned with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Tinubu. He assured that the NDDC remained committed to sustainable human capacity development. “We invested a considerable amount of money to train these young men and women in order to produce worthy personnel for industries requiring skilled workers in oil and gas, as well as manufacturing,” he said.

He encouraged the graduands to remain focused, adding that their success would not only “reduce the demand for white-collar jobs” but also stimulate growth in SMEs, thereby advancing the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Describing the graduands as “pioneers and ambassadors of the NDDC,” Antai emphasized that the training was part of the Commission’s vision to restore hope to the people of the region.

Also speaking at the event, the NDDC Director of Commercial and Industrial Development, Mrs. Lyna Okara, said, “This training program was well thought out to address the specific needs of the oil and gas industry.”

In his goodwill message, the representative of the Federal Ministry of Labour and Productivity, Mr. Timothy Iyenabo, urged the beneficiaries to “develop a roadmap towards upscaling their skills and training others.”

The graduation ceremony, which featured the presentation of certificates, was attended by senior NDDC officials including the Executive Director of Corporate Services, Hon. Ifedayo Abegunde, and the Director of Agriculture and Fisheries, Dr. Winifred Madume, among others