The Delta State Governor, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori, has lauded the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, for facilitating the establishment of the Niger Delta Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Trade, Mines and Agriculture, NDCCITMA, noting that the initiative would accelerate socio-economic development in the region. According to a statement by Seledi Thompson-Wakama Director, Corporate Affairs said Oborevwori stated this in an address read on his behalf by the State Commissioner for Budget and Economic Planning, Hon. Sonny Ekedayen, during a sensitisation workshop organised by NDCCITMA in Asaba, Delta State.
He said: “I want to appreciate and commend the NDDC for the laudable initiative of setting up the Chamber of Commerce which can support and connect businesses and companies. It is my considered view that the move will undoubtedly accelerate socio-economic development in the Niger Delta region” The governor explained that the engagement and partnership between NDDC and NDCCITMA would help to address issues of common interest and foster a more dynamic regional development. Governor Oborevwori observed that the national economic crisis had become a compelling factor for initiating processes that could lead to better governance, income generation and public expenditure, noting that NDCCITMA would assist states in the region to identify areas of cooperation and good governance.
He said further: “The national economic crisis has compelled us to rethink the processes of governance, public spending and alternative income generation. I expect that through the establishment of the NDCCITMA, we will be able to identify areas of cooperation among states and also formulate a policy template that will engender the promotion and growth of micro-small and medium enterprises, which are the engine of economic growth in any society.” In his address, the Managing Director of NDDC, Dr Samuel Ogbuku, who was represented by the Director, of Delta State office, Mr. Onoriode Omo-Udoyo, said the NDCCITMA was set up to stand in the gap between the Commission and entrepreneurs. He charged the people of the region to take advantage of the Chamber of Commerce to grow their businesses, stating that with the establishment of the NDCCITMA, all contractors doing business with NDDC must register with it. Also speaking, the representative of NDDC Executive Director, Projects and Chairman of the Implementation Committee, Dr. Godwin Nosiri, affirmed that the idea behind the establishment of NDCCITMA was to find a way to grow business from nano to small and medium-scale enterprises.