The Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) has announced a significant investment in legal studies in the region, recognising the critical role that legal advocacy can play in highlighting the challenges confronting the Niger Delta and proffering creative solutions.
At the opening ceremony of the 2025 NDDC Annual Moot and Mock Trial Competition for Law Faculties in universities within the Niger Delta region, the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of NDDC, Samuel Ogbuku, stressed the importance of legal education in addressing the region’s development challenges.
Represented by the Executive Director, Finance and Administration, Boma Iyaye, Ogbuku expressed delight that the competition coincided with the NDDC’s 25th anniversary celebration.
He highlighted the Commission’s purposeful existence and notable achievements in regional development.
The NDDC MD noted that the Moot and Mock Trial competition is part of the Commission’s educational intervention programmes aimed at supporting education in the region.
He praised the 2024 edition of the competition, describing it as impactful and colourful, showcasing bright advocacy skills among the next generation of legal professionals.
He pointed out that by investing in legal studies, the foremost interventionist agency aims to empower law students with the skills and knowledge necessary to address the complex challenges facing the Niger Delta region, stressing that the Commission’s commitment to youth engagement and human capacity development is evident in its support for the competition.
He said: “It gives me immense pleasure to welcome you again to Port Harcourt, Rivers State, for the 2025 edition of the Moot Court & Mock Trial Competition, sponsored by the NDDC for Faculties of Law in the Niger Delta Region.
“It is that same mindset for and spirit of sustainable development that drives our support and sponsorship of the NDDC Moot Court and Mock Trial competition, as we believe that legal advocacy can play a significant role in highlighting the challenges confronting the Niger Delta region and could proffer creative solutions to the challenges.
“Like I did last year, I reaffirm the commitment of the current leadership of the NDDC to continue to play strategic roles in the development of education, because it is only through these efforts that we can truly have sustainable development, build capacity, reduce poverty, and eradicate violence and crime in our region.”
He urged the participants of the year’s Moot Court competition to engage in constructive and intellectually stimulating arguments that highlight peculiarities of the area as a region, proffer solutions that would influence future law-making, and ultimately facilitate the even, rapid, and sustainable development of the Niger Delta region.
In his welcome address, the Acting Director, Legal Services of the NDDC, Victor Arenyeka, emphasised the importance of moot court and mock trial competitions in legal education.
The competition, which is expected to feature about 20 universities from across the region, promises to be bigger and more competitive than last year’s edition.
He noted that the competition is designed to simulate legal issues relevant to the Niger Delta region, such as environmental law, oil and gas law, sustainable development, and ESG considerations.
Arenyeka also noted that the success of last year’s competition, which was adjudged as one of the best moot court competitions in the country, has led to increased participation and interest in this year’s event.
