Dickson warns NDDC, stop servicing political interest

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The Bayelsa State Governor, Henry Seriake Dickson on Tuesday in Yenagoa warned the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) against being used as platform for servicing political interest, reports ITRealms.

Dickson gave this warning while welcoming the acting Managing Director of NDDC, Mrs Ibim Semenitari and leaders of the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC), during a courtesy visit, saying the commission should serve the interest of the Niger Delta people, with available resources channeled on projects that could affect the development and prosperity of the region.

He also suggested that the NDDC should collaborate with state governments in the region to execute priority projects that would serve as a catalyst for the socio-economic development.

The Governor, who identified the three senatorial road projects in the state as key to creating access to the Atlantic Ocean and economic prosperity, stressed that the construction of such projects worth billions of naira would attract development and socio-economic progress to the state.

According to him, the road from Nembe to Brass alone, for instance, would gulp about N100 billion, "Bayelsa economy will remain stifled if there is no access to the sea where its wealth lies.”

He commended the NDDC for the award of contracts in Bayelsa State, but however, decried the number of abandoned projects in the state, which he attributed the development to the over-politicization of the activities of the commission.

“The NDDC should move away from the era of using the commission as a conduit to service the vested political interest, but rather NDDC should serve the interest of the Niger Delta people and channel available resources on projects that can affect the development and prosperity of the region,” Dickson said.

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Pix: Gov. Dickson

Niger Delta: 33 finalists emerge @ GEMS 2016

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About 33 finalists have emerged in the 2016 Girls in Engineering, Mathematics and Science (GEMS) programme being organized by the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), reports ITRealms.

The Acting Managing Director, Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Mrs. Ibim Semenitari made this disclosure at a ceremony in Port Harcourt.

She also said that the 33 finalists all emerged from SSS1 and SSS2, who are beginning to see the practicality of science, even at that young age, and it becomes a foundation upon which they and other children of the Niger Delta, as well as the schools in the region, will build collective future.

The school that produces the first prize winner, she said, will get a chemistry laboratory, while the second and third schools will get a physics and biology laboratory, respectively.

“We are also going to reward the girls with prizes, such as laptops,” she said.

Further, she said, these finalists were selected from a rigorous elimination process that began with 2880 girls from the nine NDDC mandate states.

“From this first screening test 1110 girls were selected. From the 1110, 270 were selected at 30 girls per state. They progressed to the state finals, where 11 girls qualified from each state, leading to the regional finals, where 11 girls were selected from each of the three regions. Of the 33 who will participate in the grand finale, 10 would be selected for recognition, while the top five will receive awards, prizes and scholarships,” she said.

In initiating GEMS, she said, they are igniting a spark within these young, remarkable women, as well as in society, which we expect to build into a fire that will lead to great things.

“It is good for our society, and good for the Niger Delta region. It is good for our collective future,” shd said, and  called on other well-meaning organisations across the Niger Delta, especially oil and gas companies, to partner with NDDC on the GEMS programme, so that it becomes a worthy and engaging incubator for breeding young ladies who will grow up to conquer the world in various STEM-related careers. 

Gender ICT/GEE 

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GEMS committed to bridge gender gaps - Ibim Semenitari

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The Acting Managing Director, Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Mrs. Ibim Semenitari has said that by the creation of  the Girls in Engineering, Mathematics and Science (GEMS) programme, that the initiative is committed to bridge gender gaps, reports ITRealms.

Speaking at the hosting of the finalists of GEMS in Port Harcourt, Semenitari said that  the programme was borne out of the desire as well as social commitment and responsibility to bridge the gaps that exist in gender related issues.

"We encounter in our earnest effort to facilitate the sustainable development of the Niger Delta region. Of great importance is the science and technology areas, which are very vital in ensuring that our people begin to play a more definitive role in the oil and gas sector, which predominate activities in the Niger Delta," she said

According to the NDDC boss, the mission of GEMS s to promote innovative, research and standards-based practices, which will encourage students with interest in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics to thrive in the 21st century global economy.

She also said that the programme hopes to leverage on its extensive network of expertise, partnerships, resources and experience by providing Niger Delta girls who have shown remarkable brilliance in these areas the needed platform to excel and grow as scientists.

NDDC, she said, believes that science and technology could become exciting again, for our young ones.

“GEMS presents a healthy competition that helps our girls interpret science in such a way that we can use science, in a glamorous way, to do every day things, and resolve every day challenges,” she submitted.

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Pix: Mrs. Ibim Semenitari

MAAC alleges plans by Rivers govt to slander NDDC’ MD

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The Media Advocacy for Anti-Corruption (MAAC) said it has unearthed plans by the Rivers State Government to slander the Acting Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Mrs. Ibim Semenitari, reports ITRealms.

A press statement endorsed by the MAAC national coordinator, Mr. James Okoronkwo, the state Commissioner for Information and Communications, Dr. Austin Tam-George, was alleged to have compiled fictitious memos and doctored receipts to push out to mainly online and print media concerning Semenitari’s period as commissioner under the administration of Rt. Hon. Rotimi Amaechi, the current Minister of Transport.

“The plan, being coordinated by the state Commissioner of Information and Communications, Dr Austin Tam-George, is to cast her as corrupt and unfit in order to sway public opinions against the NDDC’s boss and hopefully, compel President Muhammadu Buhari from confirming her as substantive MD and as well send the anti-corruption agencies against her,” he said.

Source at the ministry of information, MAAC quoted said that “the Rivers government is desperate to taint her, given her impeccable character and time as commissioner. They are of the opinion that if they can sufficiently rubbish her, President Buhari will be forced not to appoint her as the substantive MD of the NDDC. They have also targeted her to be the first point of attack after Governor Wike's victory at the Supreme Court on Wednesday.

“My brother, don’t be surprised if you see statements from the PDP Rivers state chapter claiming that the Acting MD of the NDDC sponsored the APC matter at the tribunal through award of fictitious contracts as well as alleging that she appointed 23 aides from Rivers state alone.

“The end product is to pitch the other NDDC states against her and ensure that her tenure is characterised by crisis and mistrust.”

The group further alleged that besides these malicious allegations, the Rivers PDP and commissioner of information have engaged the services of hack writers and columnists to dish out jaundiced articles and opinions against the NDDC especially her efforts to reposition the interventionist commission.

“These people are not resting about madam (Semenitari). They have hired people to demonstrate every week at the NDDC headquarters in Port Harcourt claiming to be community leaders whose communities have been marginalised since she assumed office.

“The wicked one is their plans to release photoshop pictures of her allegedly in compromising situations with men, even women,” the source disclosed.

The group recalled that in early January, Tam-George had alleged that Semenitari obtained a loan of N1billion as commissioner, a charge that was rebuffed given that no ministry by law under the former administration was allowed to take loans.

“The state commissioner when presented with the fact could not substantiate his fact further,” they said.

The group, therefore, called on the public to be wary of this sinister plan by the Rivers government against the NDDC boss, advising them to take note of those to hold responsible for any incidence that may befall Semenitari.

 
Nenye Egbuna/GEE 
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