The Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Dr. Samuel Ogbuku, has been nominated for the Vanguard Personality Award by the Board of Editors of Vanguard Newspapers in recognition of his leadership and performance in advancing development across the Niger Delta region.
The nomination letter was formally presented to the NDDC Chief Executive Officer during a courtesy visit by a Vanguard delegation led by the newspaper’s Deputy Editor, Mr. Adekunle Adekoya, to the Commission’s headquarters.
Accepting the nomination, Ogbuku expressed appreciation for the honour, describing it as a testament to the collective efforts of the Commission’s Board, management, and key stakeholders in repositioning the NDDC for more effective service delivery in the Niger Delta.
He said the recognition reflects the Commission’s renewed focus on impactful, needs-based development and inclusive stakeholder engagement to ensure that its interventions address the real priorities of host communities.
According to him, the Commission’s Partners for Sustainable Development (PSD) Forum was established to bring together critical stakeholders to collaboratively drive the region’s development agenda.
Ogbuku noted that the NDDC’s interventions extend beyond infrastructure to sustained investments in human capital development. He highlighted the Commission’s foreign and local postgraduate scholarship programmes, which he said continue to produce highly skilled professionals contributing to national growth.
He also drew attention to ongoing legacy projects, including the Kaa–Ataba Road and Bridge in Rivers State, which, upon completion, is expected to become one of the longest bridges in the Niger Delta. He reaffirmed the Commission’s commitment to delivering key legacy projects, completing abandoned ones, and aligning its activities with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
The NDDC Managing Director emphasised the importance of sustained collaboration between the Commission and the media in promoting transparency, peace, and sustainable development. He urged journalists to continue to uphold responsible and balanced reporting in the interest of national unity and progress.
Ogbuku assured that the award would serve as motivation for greater service, pledging that the Commission would intensify its development interventions for the benefit of the people of the Niger Delta.
Earlier, Adekoya explained that the nomination followed careful deliberation by the Board of Editors, citing the Commission’s developmental strides, particularly in hinterland and riverine communities.
He commended the NDDC’s rural electrification initiatives and the “Light Up the Niger Delta” solar-powered streetlight programme, noting that the projects have significantly boosted socio-economic activities across the region.
Adekoya added that public perception of the Commission has improved under the current leadership, driven by visible infrastructure projects and impactful human capital development programmes. He said these achievements informed the decision to honour Ogbuku at the award ceremony scheduled for April 2026.
