By Kolawole Ojebisi
The Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission, Dr Samuel Ogbuku, has assured applicants for the commission’s Youth Internship scheme that plans have been concluded to pay N 50,000.
Ogbuku, however, stressed that only successful applicants would be beneficiaries of the scheme adding that the stipends payment would start from December.
Ogbuku disclosed this during an award conferred on him by the University of Ibadan. The award was presented to him by a delegation led by the university’s Vice-Chancellor, Prof Kayode Adebowale, at the commission’s headquarters in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, on Monday.
Speaking on the purpose and process involved in making the scheme a success, Ogbuku noted that the commission launched the project on August 5, 2024 in Port- Harcourt .
He noted that it attracted applications from over three million youths who are eagerly waiting for the list of beneficiaries to be released and the training scheme to commence.
He disclosed that beneficiaries would be attached to organisations for a year to learn different skills.
He said apart from the internship programme, the NDDC has also given more opportunities and hope to Niger Delta youths, through a novel programme called Holistic Opportunity Projects of Engagement, HOPE. The NDDC MD further said this would help identify youths’ interests in skills training.
Meanwhile, Ogbuku urged the University of Ibadan to step up its research activities, noting that the commission would assist universities in embarking on research in various areas to help solve some of society’s problems.
“We are ready to sponsor research, partner with universities to produce life-saving vaccines and produce lasting solutions for medical and social problems,” he said.
Ogbuku said that the honour bestowed on him by the University of Ibadan was an indication that the achievements of the NDDC were beginning to be appreciated by Nigerians.
Earlier, Prof Adebowale had applauded Ogbuku for the transformation projects and programmes undertaken by the NDDC under his leadership.
