The Niger Delta Students’ Union Government (NIDSUG) has picked holes in the Masterplan of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) saying that it does not include the educational development of the region.

This posture was taken by the body recently in its maiden National Unity Convention  held at the Hotel Presidential in Port Harcourt.

The convention, with the theme, “Making a Difference in Educational Development in the Niger Delta,” stated that not including the educational advancement of the Niger Delta Region in its masterplan means that the region “will still remain stagnant, without a solid foundation for educational development in the region”.

While insisting that youths of the region deserve quality education, the students body said “it (education) should be a divine right,not a privilege for all Niger Delta born to have access to free and compulsory education at all levels”.

In a welcome address, presented by the vice president of NIDSUG, Ms.  Patience Orji on behalf of the President, Comrade Genesis Idikibiemina, the body reviewed the master plan of the NDDC, saying it focused primarily on infrastructural development and rehabilitation of  former militants without attention to the educational growth of the region.

It is our divine right to have all our existing educational structures in the region properly equipped and funded.

“It is our divine right to give Niger Delta academicians the necessary opportunities and support to enable them excel in their various fields so they could compete favourably with their counterparts elsewhere”, the address said in part.

On his part, the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of NDDC, Engineer Chibuzor Ugwuoha confirmed the non inclusion of education in the master plan.

He, however, assured that the document would be reviewed.

Highlight of the convention was the presentation of award to the NDDC boss by the President of NIDSUG, Comrade Idikibiemina.

Sogbebe Dokubo