By Ebi Kesiena
The Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) has disowned a widely circulated report alleging that it failed to pay trainees involved in a purported skill acquisition programme said to have taken place in Bayelsa and Rivers states.
This was made known in a statement signed by the Commission’s Director of Corporate Affairs, Seledi Thompson-Wakama, who described the claims as false, misleading, and orchestrated by individuals seeking to exploit unsuspecting youths.
According to the statement, the alleged training programme was reportedly organised by a religious group known as Victorious Prayer Network, which claimed that the NDDC had promised to sponsor over 2,000 participants and provide them with starter packs. The organisers further accused the Commission of reneging on its commitment. However, the NDDC clarified that it neither approved nor endorsed any such initiative, and had not mandated any individual or group to conduct training on its behalf.
“The NDDC is not behind this particular skill acquisition training. Our programmes are well-publicised and open to public scrutiny,” the statement read. It added that the Commission recently launched a comprehensive and legitimate technical skills acquisition initiative in Port Harcourt, with clear processes for participation.
The Commission urged members of the public, particularly the youth, to be vigilant and verify any programme purportedly associated with the NDDC through its official website and social media platforms. It warned against dealing with unverified individuals who may be attempting to use the Commission’s name for personal financial gain.
Restating its commitment to fairness, transparency, and youth empowerment, the NDDC advised the public to disregard the fake programme and assured stakeholders that the Commission would continue to uphold integrity in all its interventions across the Niger Delta Region.
