In a strategic engagement aimed at fostering sustainable development in the Niger Delta, Dr. Chinyere Nwoga, President of the Port Harcourt Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (PHCCIMA), received a high-level delegation from the Federal University Otuoke (FUO), Bayelsa State.
The visit, led by Prof. John Kalama, Head of the Department of Political Science at FUO, served to formally brief PHCCIMA, one of the region’s most influential private-sector bodies, about the forthcoming three-day international conference titled “Niger Delta Beyond Oil.” Slated for March 2026 in Bayelsa State, the event is designed to evolve into an annual flagship gathering that challenges the region to diversify its economy while oil remains a viable resource.
Prof. Kalama stressed the critical need for collaboration with PHCCIMA to leverage private-sector dynamism and ensure broad-based success. He formally requested the nomination of a Chamber representative to join the planning committee, explaining that the conference seeks to awaken stakeholders to untapped non-oil potentials, inspire proactive interest in holistic regional progress, and compel political leaders to formulate visionary policies that protect Niger Delta rights while optimizing long-term gains for residents.
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Responding warmly yet pragmatically, Dr. Nwoga praised the initiative as visionary and timely. However, drawing from historical patterns, she cautioned that numerous past regional conferences have generated eloquent recommendations without meaningful follow-through or implementation. She implored the organizers and political actors to muster genuine political will to convert conference outcomes into concrete, sustained action rather than allowing them to remain theoretical documents.
To guarantee the envisioned high-impact forum, she recommended extending the preparatory timeline for deeper, more inclusive planning. Dr. Nwoga confirmed PHCCIMA’s enthusiastic endorsement, committing the Chamber’s formidable brand and network to amplify the program. Recognizing logistical challenges posed by distance, she proposed regular virtual meetings for the planning committee to maintain momentum and efficiency.
This partnership between academia and the organized private sector signals renewed hope for collaborative, forward-looking efforts to secure a diversified, resilient economic future for the Niger Delta amid its enduring oil-era realities.
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