Emma Arubi
2 October, 2011, Sweetcrude, WARRI- THE Acting Managing Director/CEO of Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Mrs. Osato Arenyeka has called on all stakeholders in the public and private sectors in the oil-rich Niger Delta region to support Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) and carry out other development initiatives.
She noted that this was in accordance with the Master Plan framework of the Commission.
Already, the Commission has commenced the training of no fewer that 1,000 entrepreneurs drawn from all the nine states of the region.
Speaking at the official flag-off the NDDC capacity building programme for Entrepreneurs in Warri, Delta State, Arenyeka said the decision of the Commission to embark ont eh training programme was brone out of the requirements of the Niger Delta Regional Development Master Plan (NDRDMP) which dictates that major stakeholders in the region, including the NDDC should support entrepreneurs in the MSMEs sector of the economy.
“We intend to train 1,000 (one thousand) entrepreneurs drawn from all the nine (9) states during this phase of the programme,” she disclosed.
“I would like to use this opportunity to call on all stakeholders in the public and private sectors in the Niger Delta region to work in concert with the Master Plan framework in their efforts to support MSMEs and carry out other develiopment initiatives. By this, we will achieve our objectives sooner, and duplication of efforts and wastage of scarce resoruces will be eliminated,” she stated.
The capacity building programme, according to her was designed to provide, “You with the tools, practical knowledge and skills that you need as budding entrepreneurs who will carry the torch of our region’s economic prosperity forward into the future.”
She advised them to take the training seriously “Because the economic recovery of the entire region depends on you.”
The NDDC boss expressed gratitude to President Goodluck Jonathan for keeping his administration focused on creating employment for Nigerians and improving our economic well being through building the capacity of MSMEs.
NDDC, she said, is in full alignment with the policies and programmes of President Jonathan and is determined to ensure that the Niger Delta region benefits fully from these initiatives.
