Transforming-the-Narrative:-Highlights-from-the-Niger-Delta-Business-Roundtable

Transforming the Narrative: Highlights from the Niger Delta Business Roundtable

​By Dave Ikiedei Asei | Niger Delta Progress-Reporters | March 21, 2026

​PORT HARCOURT, RIVERS STATE – The landscape of economic engagement in the Niger Delta witnessed a strategic pivot this week as the Niger Delta Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Trade, Mines and Agriculture (NDCCITMA) successfully concluded its high-level Business Roundtable.

​The forum, held in the heart of Port Harcourt, served as a rallying cry for a "New Development Agenda," moving the region away from historical dependence on oil and gas toward a diversified, sustainable, and investment-ready economy.

​A Call for Patriotic Investment

​A central theme of the roundtable was the transition from "transactional" to "transformational" engagement. Addressing a diverse gallery of captains of industry, traditional rulers, and SME owners, the Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Dr. Samuel Ogbuku, emphasized that the region’s rebirth must be driven from within.

​"If we do not invest in our own region, we cannot expect outsiders to do so. We must be patriotic to our economic potential," Ogbuku stated.

​The NDDC leadership reaffirmed its commitment to providing the necessary "soft" and "hard" infrastructure to support this shift, highlighting the "Operation Light Up the Niger Delta" initiative as a critical step in solving the perennial power challenges that stifle local production.

​Empowering the Engine of Growth: MSMEs

​The roundtable was not merely a talk shop; it highlighted tangible progress in the NDCCITMA’s mission to support the backbone of the economy: Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs).

​Ambassador Idaere Gogo Ogan, Chairman of NDCCITMA, shared encouraging data regarding the chamber’s ongoing investment schemes. With over 13,000 applications received for recent loan programs, the chamber has already successfully empowered over 3,000 businesses. The forum celebrated a high rate of loan repayment, signaling a new era of integrity and bankability for regional entrepreneurs.

​Key Pillars of the New Agenda

​Discussions at the roundtable focused on several strategic sectors identified as high-growth drivers for the next 24 months:

  • ​The Blue Economy: Unlocking maritime opportunities, sustainable fisheries, and offshore logistics.

  • ​Agriculture & Agribusiness: Moving beyond subsistence to large-scale food processing and export.
  • ​Energy Transition: Leveraging gas-based industrialization to power local manufacturing.

  • ​Human Capital: Scaling up vocational skills and mentorship programs for the region's youth.

​Looking Ahead

​The consensus among participants was clear: the Niger Delta is "open for business" and ready to move past the shadows of insecurity and abandoned projects. By fostering synergy between the nine states of the region and providing a platform for networking and data collection, NDCCITMA is positioning itself as the vital link between potential investors and bankable opportunities.

​As the curtains fall on this roundtable, the mandate is set: to build strong business institutions that can compete not just nationally, but globally.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

False-political-claims-against-Dr.-Samuel-Ogbuku-and-former-President-Goodluck-Jonathan

Image
False political claims against Dr. Samuel Ogbuku and former President Dr Goodluck Jonathan. PUBLIC REBUTTAL STATEMENT Vindicating Dr. Samuel Ogbuku and Former President Dr Goodluck Jonathan from False Political Allegations Date: June 2, 2025 Issued by: Niger Delta Progress Reporters Signed: Dave Ikiedei Asei, Managing Editor  Introduction The Niger Delta Progress Reporters has conducted an independent fact-check and investigation into recent social media rumors alleging that Dr. Samuel Ogbuku, the Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), is clandestinely sponsoring a supposed 2027 presidential ambition of former President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan. Following weeks of tracking publications, verifying official statements, and cross-checking various media sources, we found no credible evidence to support these claims. This statement serves to formally rebut and dismiss the allegation as baseless, politically motivated, and damaging to public discou...
Read more

Interrogating-Ogbuku’s-50th-birthday-celebration

Image
Interrogating Ogbuku’s 50th birthday celebration Published by NIGER DELTA-PROGRESS-REPORTERS  September 12th, 2025 On August 19, the Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Dr Samuel Ogbuku, turned 50. A milestone. For a man of his status, you would expect a birthday bash complete with the dainties of vanity. And why not? A golden jubilee for a man of undeniable accomplishments deserves a festoon of golden confetti in Dubai, the Caribbean or any of the exotic offshore getaways. But not Ogbuku. He chose a different path. A path of value, decorum, and compassionate reflection on humanity especially on the well-being of the Niger Delta region. A true born of the region, precisely of the Ogbia ancestry in Bayelsa state, Ogbuku was raised to cherish value, integrity and uphold the dignity of his family tree, a family that through the ages has endured as an emblem of honour and veracity. So, rather than get drowned in the fountain of merriment and ...
Read more

Redefining-Public-Service-for-the-Modern-Era:-Dr.-Samuel-Ogbuku’s-Leadership-in-NDDC

Image
Redefining Public Service for the Modern Era: Dr. Samuel Ogbuku’s Leadership in NDDC By Niger Delta Progressive Reporters September 16, 2025 Awudumu Reigneth Audu Public service in the modern era requires far more than traditional bureaucracy and rigid processes; it demands innovation, transparency, and responsiveness to the people’s needs. In the Niger Delta, a region faced with complex developmental challenges, the leadership of Dr. Samuel Ogbuku at the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) has emerged as a model for how governance can be redefined to meet contemporary expectations. His approach integrates accountability, innovation, and community engagement, thereby setting a new benchmark for public service delivery. Dr. Ogbuku’s philosophy is anchored in the belief that public institutions should operate as service-oriented entities rather than power-driven structures. He has consistently emphasized that the NDDC is not merely an interventionist body but a partner ...
Read more