By Ebi Kesiena
The Asagba of Asaba, Obi Epiphany Azinge, has commended the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) for its achievements in the past 25 years.
Obi Azinge spoke when the Chairman of the NDDC Governing Board, Chiedu Ebie, led a delegation of the Commission’s Board and Management to pay a courtesy visit to him in his palace in Asaba, Delta State.
The NDDC delegation included the Managing Director, Dr. Samuel Ogbuku; the Executive Director of Finance and Administration, Alabo Boma Iyaye; the Executive Director of Corporate Services, Hon. Ifedayo Abegunde; and other Directors of the Commission.
As contained in a statement by NDDC’s Director, Corporate Affairs, Seledi Thompson-Wakama, the royal father commended the NDDC for its intervention in several sectors across the Niger Delta region. He expressed delight with the foreign postgraduate scholarship programme, which had helped many Niger Delta youths upgrade their knowledge.
He also acknowledged the contributions of the NDDC Chairman, whom he said had served the Delta State Government in different capacities. He noted that Ebie served meritoriously as Delta State Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education and later, Secretary to the State Government.
Obi Azinge called on the NDDC to extend its intervention to some critical areas in Asaba, noting that the town had been contending with floods for many years.
He also appealed to the NDDC to assist in the construction of projects that would benefit the people in his domain.
The monarch thanked the NDDC for selecting Asaba as the venue for some of the activities marking its 25th anniversary, such as a press conference and the movie premiere.
Speaking earlier, the NDDC Chairman, Mr. Chiedu Ebie, congratulated the Asagba on his coronation as the Asagba of Asaba. He expressed optimism that his reign would bring good tidings to Asaba, which serves as both a kingdom and the capital of Delta State.
He stated that the NDDC had come of age and was now a big brother to the new development agencies in Nigeria’s geo-political zones.
Ebie said that as part of the silver jubilee celebration, the Commission was going around the nine states of the Niger Delta. “We are in Asaba to hold a world press conference and movie premiere because the town is fast becoming the Nollywood capital of Nigeria.”
