The Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) has donated a set of fishing gear to 34 co-operative groups in Rivers State as part of its scheme to boost riverine economy and empower the people. Commissioner representing Rivers State on the Board of the NDDC, Georgewill Emmanuel, who handed over the fishing gears, urged the beneficiaries to accept the opportunities as a collective economic empowerment to enhance their livelihood.
Georgewill advised the beneficiaries to use the opportunity to ensure that their families, communities and Rivers people derive benefits from the fishing gear, adding that with success the Commission will be encouraged to continue to work to improve the living conditions of the people. He said: “Each time I see determined individuals or groups committed to self improvement; it gives me the motivation and zeal to plough harder.”
He warned that they should not be tempted to sell the fishing gears as the NDDC Monitoring Team will continuously monitor them, stating that other empowerment and human capacity development programmes of the NDDC are already yielding dividends. The fishing gear include speed boat, net of various sizes, 40 horse-power engine, coolers, ropes, anchor among others accessories to the benefiting co-operatives.
Responding on behalf of the co-operative societies, Mr. Hezekiah Owubokiri of Hosanna Okuru Investment And Credit Cooperative Society Limited, commended the NDDC and promised that the fishing gear will be put to good use.
