Governor of Ondo State, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, and the Archbishop of the Akure Anglican Communion, Most Rev. Simon Borokini, on Sunday commended the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) for its role in addressing developmental challenges in the Niger Delta region.

Aiyedatiwa harped on the commission’s renewed emphasis on partnerships and collaboration as a driving force for sustainable progress in the region, while Borokini urged continued transparency and accountability within the commission’s operations.

Speaking during the 25th anniversary thanksgiving service of the NDDC held at St. Thomas’s Anglican Church in Akure, the Ondo State capital, the governor noted that NDDC’s commitment to the timely conception, implementation, and completion of projects had been impressive.

Aiyedatiwa, who hailed the board and management of the commission for their exemplary leadership and dedication, stated that the commission has demonstrated a strong sense of purpose in bridging infrastructural and socio-economic gaps in the Niger Delta.

He said: “As we celebrate the Silver Jubilee of the NDDC, it is imperative that we acknowledge the progress we have made and also recognise that there is still much work to be done as the Niger Delta region continues to face significant development challenges, and we must work together to address these issues.

“I urge the NDDC to continue to improve on its activities, ensuring that projects are tailored to the needs of the communities we serve. Let us work together to unlock the potential of our region, promote economic growth, and enhance the lives of our people. We are partners in progress, unity, and development.”

On his part, Borokini, in his sermon titled “Accountability,” said NDDC remains a treasure to all states along the shoreline, driving progress and development in the region.

“The instruments that established you were in response to long-standing agitation by Niger Delta committees for development and equitable distribution of oil wealth. Your mandate, among others, is to facilitate the rapid, even sustainable development of the Niger Delta into a region that is economically prosperous, socially stable, ecologically regenerating, and politically peaceful.

“We are proud to say, based on what we have seen around, that over the years we have noticed your impact in infrastructural development, water, sanitation, education, health, environmental immunisation, youth empowerment, job creation, and support for small-scale businesses and entrepreneurship in our region.

“To be responsible is to be accountable. To be accountable is to be punishable. If not by man, by God. Think about this. Tell it to the Lord. In all you do, in all your achievements, know for sure that one day you will be accountable.”

The Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Dr. Samuel Ogbuku, said the NDDC has undertaken major road construction and rehabilitation projects to improve connectivity and accessibility in the Niger Delta region.

“We are also here to spread the dividends of renewed hope. We heard what the cleric said. We have been accountable, and we will be accountable at the end of our tenure.”

Ogbuku stressed that the commission has prioritised youth empowerment through training programs, educational scholarships, and capacity-building workshops to equip the local workforce with necessary skills.