From Kenechukwu Obiajuru, Yenagoa
The Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, Dr Samuel Ogbuku, has been nominated for the Vanguard Personality Award by the Board of Editors of Vanguard Newspapers in recognition of his outstanding leadership and performance in the development of the Niger Delta region.
The Nomination letter was formally presented to the NDDC Chief Executive Officer during a courtesy visit by a delegation from Vanguard Newspapers, led by the Deputy Editor of Vanguard, Mr Adekunle Adekoya, to the Commission’s Headquarters.
Accepting the nomination, Ogbuku expressed appreciation for the recognition, describing it as a testament to the collective efforts of the Commission’s Board, Management and critical stakeholders in repositioning the NDDC for effective service delivery across the Niger Delta region.
According to him, the recognition reflects the Commission’s focus on impactful development driven by proper needs assessment and inclusive stakeholder engagement to ensure that interventions directly address the priorities of host communities.
The Managing Director noted that the Commission’s Partners for Sustainable Development (PSD) Forum was designed to bring key stakeholders together to drive the development process.
He stressed that NDDC’s interventions go beyond infrastructure, highlighting sustained investments in human capital development through its foreign and local postgraduate scholarship programme, which continues to produce some of the best scholars.
Ogbuku also highlighted ongoing legacy projects, including the Kaa–Ataba Road and Bridge project in Rivers State, which he observed would rank as the longest bridge in the Niger Delta region. He affirmed that the Commission remained committed to delivering legacy projects, completing abandoned ones, and making President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the people of the Niger Delta proud, in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda.
He emphasised the importance of sustained partnership between the Commission and the media in promoting transparency, peace, and sustainable development in the region. He urged the media to continue playing a constructive role, noting that responsible, balanced reporting was essential for national unity and progress.
Ogbuku assured that the award would serve as a call to greater service, pledging that the Commission would continue to intensify its developmental interventions for the benefit of the people of the Niger Delta.
Earlier, the Deputy Editor of Vanguard Newspapers, Mr. Adekunle Adekoya, stated that the nomination followed careful consideration by the Board of Editors, citing the Commission’s developmental strides, particularly in hinterland and riverine communities.
He commended the NDDC’s rural electrification initiatives and the “Light Up the Niger Delta” solar-powered streetlight programme, noting that these projects have significantly enhanced socio-economic activities across the region.
Adekoya further observed that public perception of the Commission had improved remarkably under the current leadership, driven by visible infrastructure projects and impactful human capital development programmes, which informed the decision to honour the Managing Director at the forthcoming ceremony. The award ceremony is scheduled for April, 2026.
