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Promote efficiency in service delivery, NDDC boss charges directors
The Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, Dr Samuel Ogbuku, has charged newly promoted Directors of the Commission to emphasise efficiency in the discharge of their duties.
Ogbuku, who made the call during the Opening Session of a Two-Week Capacity Building Workshop for NDDC Directors in Abuja, stated that providing quality service to the people of the Niger Delta was a collective responsibility of all the staff of the Commission.
The NDDC Boss, represented by his Chief of Staff, Rev. Julius Oworibo, said that the Strategic Management and Leadership Programme would equip the Directors to make critical decisions that would shape the course of the NDDC and the Niger Delta region.
Dr Ogbuku noted that the task ahead was enormous, stressing that the region was faced with a myriad of challenges, including environmental degradation caused by oil exploration and exploitation; inadequate infrastructure; educational disparities and healthcare deficiencies.
He stated: “Niger Delta region is not just a geographical entity; it is a place where dreams are born and nurtured, where cultures thrive, and where people’s lives are intertwined with the rich tapestry of our environment. It’s a region blessed with abundant natural resources, but also beset by unique challenges.
“The challenges that have plagued the Niger Delta for decades seems endless but not insurmountable. Concerted effort, strategic thinking, and unwavering commitment is required to tackle the challenges. This is where your role as Directors becomes pivotal. You are at the forefront of the battle for a better Niger Delta, armed not with weapons, but with knowledge, vision, and determination.”
Ogbuku said further: “As you take on your new roles as Directors, you are not just assuming positions of authority; you are embracing a profound responsibility to shape the destiny of our region.
“The NDDC’s mission is to facilitate sustainable development of the Niger Delta states, and your leadership is central to achieving this goal. We cannot afford to falter or stagnate; we must rise to the occasion with wisdom, courage, and innovation.”
The NDDC boss said that leadership, especially in the context of a complex organization like the NDDC, demanded a diverse skills set and a deep understanding of the region.
He challenged the Directors: “Lead with integrity, transparency, and a deep commitment to the people of the Niger Delta. Embrace innovation and collaboration as tools for progress. Champion inclusivity and diversity in your teams, for it is through diverse perspectives that we find the best solutions.
“To lead effectively, you must have a clear vision of where we are headed and the purpose that drives us. Our vision for the Niger Delta is one of inclusive and sustainable development. It’s a vision where every child has access to quality education, where healthcare is not a luxury but a right, where our environment is protected for future generations, and where economic opportunities abound.
“Your purposes as Directors is to turn this vision into reality, step by step, decision by decision. Let your leadership be guided by the principles of empathy and compassion.
Understand the daily struggles of the people you serve, and let their aspirations be your North Star”, he emphasized.
While calling for unity of purpose in the Commission, Ogbuku said “NDDC is not a collection of individuals working in isolation; it is a team bound by a common mission. Support one another, collaborate, and share knowledge and experiences. It’s in the synergy of diverse talents that we find innovative solutions to complex problems.
“Together, we will write a new chapter of progress and prosperity for our beloved region.”
The Director-General, Administrative Staff College of Nigeria, ASCON, Mrs. C.U. Gayya thanked the NDDC for the confidence reposed in the College to collaborate with it to organize the Two-weeks Human Capacity Development Course for the newly promoted Staff to the rank of Directors.
She commended the Commission for pulling resources together for the Training Session aimed at promoting competence in delivering the core mandate of the NDDC.
Gayya stated that the current economic crunch in the country is a wake-up call to look inward and begin to do things differently, stressing “we must be more proactive, resourceful and committed to the ideals of innovation, creativity and resourcefulness in managing public resources”.
Earlier in his opening remarks, the NDDC Director of Human Resources and Administration, Mr. Patrick Ekade said the two-week programme was another step towards building the capacity of participants for effective delivery on the mandate of the NDDC.
Enugu State Governor, Dr. Peter Mbah, has approved scholarships for over 760 beneficiaries under the 2025/2026 Local Scholarship Scheme, in a move that further underscores his administration’s commitment to expanding access to quality education and developing the state’s human capital.
The Executive Secretary of the Enugu State Scholarship and Education Loans Board, Chukwuemeka Mbah, disclosed this on Monday in Enugu.
According to him, the beneficiaries, drawn from the 17 Local Government Areas of the state and across various academic disciplines, comprise over 500 undergraduate students, 100 postgraduate students, and 160 public sector teachers.
He explained that successful candidates who passed the Computer-Based Test (CBT) are already being contacted via text messages and email on an LGA-by-LGA basis for verification and documentation.
Mbah said the scholarship scheme reflects Governor Mbah’s unwavering commitment to investing in education, empowering young people, and equipping the workforce with the knowledge and skills needed to drive the state’s transformation agenda.
He urged successful applicants to promptly respond to the messages sent to them to facilitate the verification process.
According to him, the scholarship award is one of the key education initiatives of the Mbah administration aimed at ensuring that financial constraints do not stand in the way of academic excellence and human capital development in Enugu State.
“More beneficiaries will be captured in the next phase of the scholarship programme. It’s open to the people of Enugu State, and I want to urge our people to continue to apply. This is not the time to say you’re unable to get quality education because of funding. The governor has made it easy for our people to access free, quality education,” he added.
President Bola Tinubu administration has approved the comprehensive reform of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC).
Under the new arrangement, the military will no longer head the scheme.
Instead, the agency will be led by a civilian in its operational leadership, while the military will continue to handle security for corps members across the country.
The development was announced on Monday by the Minister of Youth Development, Ayodele Olawande after the Federal Executive Council, FEC, at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.
Tinubu also directed the Attorney-General of the Federation, Lateef Fagbemi, and the Minister of Youth, Ayodele Olawande, to amend the NYSC Act and its regulations to reflect all the approved reform measures, enabling immediate implementation of the new framework.
Some of the landmark reforms include:
A technology-driven call-up process.
Risk-sensitive deployment to better protect corps members.
A redesigned six-week orientation programme with a stronger focus on leadership, entrepreneurship, digital skills, and specialised career streams.
Skills-based primary assignments aligned with academic background and career pathways.
Modern governance with civilian operational leadership while the military continues to provide security support.
Improved camp standards through a national grading and certification system.
A new graduation ceremony to replace the Passing Out Parade, and a redesigned NYSC uniform that reflects professionalism and national pride.
The Centre for Reform and Public Advocacy (CFRPA) has filed a suit at the Federal High Court in Kano seeking the disqualification of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu from the 2027 presidential election over allegations of certificate forgery.
According to court documents seen by Daily Trust, the plaintiff alleged that Tinubu presented forged academic certificates from Chicago State University and a fake National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) discharge certificate to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) during the 2023 elections.
The suit, marked FHC/K/CS/312/2026, lists Tinubu, INEC, and Chicago State University as defendants.
The plaintiff contended that Tinubu never attended Government College Lagos as claimed, noting that the school was established in 1974, four years after Tinubu allegedly graduated.
The CSO further argued that Tinubu does not possess a valid secondary school certificate, which is the minimum constitutional requirement to contest for the presidency.
It claimed that INEC had failed to act on its petition dated June 19, 2026, demanding clarification on Tinubu’s eligibility.
In its statement of claims, the group referenced a 2023 U.S. court ruling in Re: Application of Atiku Abubakar (No. 23 CV 05099), which compelled Chicago State University to release Tinubu’s academic records.
The plaintiff insisted those records revealed false entries and inconsistencies, including a forged University of Cambridge General Certificate of Education.
The prayers asked by the plaintiff included declaration of forgery against Tinubu’s Chicago State University certificate, issuance of an order directing INEC to disqualify him from the 2027 presidential election, directing CSU to strike Tinubu’s name from its records and perpetual injunction restraining INEC from uploading Tinubu’s name as a candidate.
The plaintiff also submitted affidavits of non-multiplicity of action, witness statements, and letters to the NYSC and the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, demanding disclaimers on the alleged fake NYSC certificate.
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