4 October 2011, Sweetcrude, WARRI-THE Acting Managing Director/CEO of Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Osato Arenyeka has revealed that the Commission has trained over 1,000 (one thousand ) entrepreneurs on Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) in accordance with the Master Plan frame of the Commission in all the 9 oil bearing states of the federation.
She also called on all stakeholders in the public and private sectors in the oil-rich Niger Delta to support the MSMEs and carry out other development initiatives.
Speaking at the official flag-off the NDDC capacity building programme for Entrepreneurs in Warri, Delta State, Mrs. Arenyeka said the decision of the Commission to embark ont eh training programme was borne 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.
“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 development initiatives. By this, we will achieve our objectives sooner, and duplication of efforts and wastage of scarce resources 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.