Youths under the auspices of the Ogbia Brotherhood Youth Council (OBYC) has commended President Muhammadu Buhari for the appointment of Engr. Emmanuel Audu-Ohwavborua as acting Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).
Engr. Audu-Ohwavborua who was the most senior director in the NDDC took over from Effiong Akwa, who was relieved of his position as Interim Administrator last week by President Buhari.
The OBYC described the appointment of the new NDDC boss as an implicit choice “owing to his expertise, administrative acumen and vast wealth of experience in public service which spans many years”.
National President of the socio-cultural organisation, Comr. (Amb) Johnny S. Jonathan stated this while fielding questions from newsmen in Yenagoa on issues about the Niger Delta.
He expressed optimism that Audu-Ohwavborua will do well in his new capacity pending the setting up of a substantive board of the commission.
The OBYC President stressed that NDDC as an interventionist agency with a mission to facilitate the speedy and sustainable development of the Niger Delta region requires the kind of leadership qualities Engr. Audu-Ohwavborua has.
“Especially at such an extensive demand for strategic leadership pending the appointment and inauguration of a substantive board for the commission, Engr. Emmanuel Audu-Ohwavborua comes as the best hand and we are confident that he will not disappoint”, the group said.
The socio-cultural apex youth body of all youth organisation in Ogbia Kingdom in the Niger Delta prayed for wisdom and grace for the new helmsman of the NDDC to administer a successful transition tenure as Acting Managing Director.
The youths further called on the commission to engage and engender more robust youth development programmes that will encourage youths of the Niger Delta region, particularly Ogbia youths to explore innovative ideas to tackle development challenges and provide then with the necessary tools to build and engage in impactful projects.
They also applauded President Buhari for taken practical steps to form a new and substantive board of the NDDC which according to them is what all stakeholders of the region have long advocated and anticipated for.