The Ijaw National Congress of the Americas (INC-A) has bestowed an award of excellence on the Managing Director, Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Dr Samuel Ogbuku, recognizing him as Champion of Economic Empowerment.
The INC-A presented the award to Ogbuku in Houston Texas, USA, as part of its three-day second Ijaw Global Convention with the theme: “Effective Leadership in Ijaw Nation.”
A former President, Ijaw Youths Council (IYC), Engr. Udengs Eradiri, who received the award on behalf of Ogbuku, said the NDDC boss felt particularly honored by the recognition of his strides in entrepreneurship and local economic growth.
Eradiri said the award was a testament of Ogbuku’s exceptional leadership style and his commitment to the deployment of the NDDC resources in actualising the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in the region.
He said the award would motivate Ogbuku to keep rolling out people-oriented projects and empowerment programmes designed to enhance the economy of the region and lift many people out of poverty.
“The NDDC Managing Director will also seek opportunities to collaborate with international organisations including the Ijaws in diaspora to ensure the growth and development of the Niger Delta region”, he said.
He said the Mayor of Houston, John Whitmire, used the occasion to proclaim July 5 every year as the Ijaw Convention Day and issued a certificate to that effect.
He said the Mayor described the Ijaw people living in the US as “a vibrant and growing segment of the Nigerian-American diaspora, contributing significantly to business, education, energy, healthcare, culture, and civic life, particularly in the Greater Houston area.”
Eradiri further said that the Ijaw Cultural Centre, Houston was launched at the event adding that when completed, the centre would act as a meeting point for all Ijaws in the diaspora and provide research materials to international scholars on matters concerning the Ijaw people.
