In a bid to combat poverty and create employment opportunities, the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) has sponsored a three-month skills acquisition programme, benefiting over 300 youths and women from the Niger Delta region.
The initiative, organized by Victorious Prayer Network (VPN), also known as King Makers Ministries, is currently ongoing in Port Harcourt, Rivers State. Participants are receiving hands-on training in various vocational and entrepreneurial skills, including tailoring, catering, shoemaking, hairdressing, barbing, photography, soap and air freshener production, bead making, and Information Communication Technology (ICT).
The founder of VPN, Mrs. Victoria Agori, emphasized that the programme is designed to equip beneficiaries with practical skills to secure jobs, start businesses, and contribute to the economy. She assured that upon completion in March 2025, participants would receive starter packs and financial support to help them launch their ventures.
“This skills acquisition programme is being sponsored by the NDDC. I sincerely appreciate the NDDC Managing Director, Dr. Samuel Ogbuku, and his team for making this possible,” Agori said. “This initiative is particularly beneficial for widows, orphans, and other vulnerable individuals, enabling them to earn a living and even become employers in the future.”
She commended Ogbuku for his dedication to youth empowerment and human capacity development, highlighting his efforts in alleviating economic hardship in the Niger Delta. She also described his reappointment as NDDC Managing Director as a well-deserved move, thanking President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for entrusting him with the role.
“We thank the President for appointing and reappointing Dr. Samuel Ogbuku. He understands the needs of the Niger Delta people and is actively working to address them,” she stated. “This is the second edition of this program, and we look forward to the third edition in Bayelsa later this year—all at no cost to participants, courtesy of the NDDC.”
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Participants expressed gratitude for the life-changing opportunity. Josephine Christopher, a beneficiary of the tailoring training, shared her excitement, revealing that she had long desired to learn a skill but lacked the financial means.
“This program is a blessing. It has given me hope for a better future,” she said. “I encourage other youths to take advantage of opportunities like this instead of engaging in negative activities.”
Similarly, Joy Edward, an 18-year-old from Akwa Ibom State enrolled in the ICT training, expressed her appreciation to the NDDC for empowering young people to become self-reliant.
With the impact of the program already being felt among participants, the initiative is a step forward in tackling unemployment and fostering sustainable development in the Niger Delta.
