In view of fostering scientific and technological advancement among young girls in the Niger Delta region, the Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, Dr Samuel Ogbuku, says the Commission is equipping young girls with the necessary skills to thrive in the modern world.
Speaking recently, at closing ceremony of the Girl Child Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics, STEM competition in Port Harcourt, Ogbuku explained the importance of educating and empowering the girl child; stating that the commission was committed not only to infrastructural development but also to human capital development.
Commission’s MD, who was represented by the NDDC Director of Education, Dr (Mrs) Awele Chukwudifu, emphasised on the importance of educating and empowering the girl child; assuring that the NDDC was committed not only to infrastructural development but also to human capital development.
Furthermore , the NDDC boss, revealed that the STEM programme was an essential initiative of the Commission, hence , this STEM competition has brought enormous benefits to the girl child by equipping them with the technological skills essential for the future.
However, Professor Continue Eletu, who stood the ground for the Director of the Rivers State Office, at the closing ceremony, maintained that the competition aligns with the policy priorities of the commission in advancing human capital development; adding that the initiative has given students a platform to excel in Mathematics, Engineering, and Science, which are fundamental for innovation and societal growth.
He hinted that the competition, which involved participants from the nine Niger Delta states, served as a platform to nurture future leaders in STEM. He reiterated the Commission’s commitment; aligning its policies with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
According to her: “We appreciate the NDDC Board and Management for their continued support in advancing education in the region.
“The Dr Samuel Ogbuku-led administration in NDDC is committed to empowering the Niger Delta girl child by providing opportunities for them to excel in STEM fields.
“When you train a girl, you train a nation. By investing in the girl child, we are shaping the future of our society.”
Responding, the Lead Consultant, Chief Godson Ideozu, expressed that the event stands as the grand finale of a rigorous and competitive selection process across the Niger Delta states.
“This programme identifies and nurtures young talent from an early stage. The next phase will involve mentorship to sustain their interest in STEM fields. Just like the NDDC’s Postgraduate Foreign Scholarship Programme, this initiative is designed to build human capacity in various cutting-edge fields such as Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Computer Science,” he noted.
Moreover, the event featured the presentation of awards to the top-performing students, with Miss Jegede Osamagbe emerging as the overall winner.
While on the process, Miss Osamagbe praised the management of the commission for providing a platform that nurtures and empowers young girls in the STEM field. She also appreciated the NDDC for providing girls with the opportunity to showcase their talents and compete at this level; charging all the young girls out there, that if they can remember, they can as well imagine it, and can achieve it also.