Business
NDDC Boss Charges Stakeholders On Peace
The Managing Director of Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Dr Chris Oboh, has reiterated the need for all stakeholders to ensure public safety in their communities.
Dr Oboh stated this in his goodwill message at the one day Etim Inyang International Lecture organised by the Police Community Relations Committee (PCRC), Rivers State Command held at the Rivers State House of Assembly Auditorium, Port Harcourt, recently.
According to him, peace is a vital tool that the entire world needed at this moment, saying “without it there can be no development.”
The Managing Director, who was represented by Mrs Gloria Akpanam stated that the commission was working within the philosophy of Community Policing by developing a number of strategies and problem solving techniques to address restiveness and promote peace in the region.
“In specific terms, the commission has carried out a number of infrastructural and human development projects in the region,” he said, pointing out that the commission had empowered the youths and women through engagement and capacity building such as welding, fabrication, drilling technology, and other oil and gas specific skills in Namibia, Turkey and Norway, as well as graduate computer training, short courses in maritime related trade, petroleum engineering, geological services skills, entrepreneurship programme or solar powered equipment and maintenance technology, post graduate scholarship, free medical services and sports development.
Dr Oboh said the aim of the capacity building was to meaningfully engage the youths, create jobs for them so that they would not have idle time for anti-social vices, enjoining all to be alive to this collective responsibility to maintain peace and safeguard the communities for posterity.
The Managing Director who lauded the organisers for their bold step and lecture titled “Community Policing” said the philosophy of the exercise was to promote peace in the communities and urged them to keep up the spirit.
Kenya made it a clean sweep at the Berlin Marathon with Sabastian Sawe winning the men’s race and Rosemary Wanjiru triumphing in the women’s.
Sawe finished in two hours, two minutes and 16 seconds to make it three wins in his first three marathons.
The 30-year-old, who was victorious at this year’s London Marathon, set a sizzling pace as he left the field behind and ran much of the race surrounded only by his pacesetters.
Japan’s Akasaki Akira came second after a powerful latter half of the race, finishing almost four minutes behind Sawe, while Ethiopia’s Chimdessa Debele followed in third.
“I did my best and I am happy for this performance,” said Sawe.
“I am so happy for this year. I felt well but you cannot change the weather. Next year will be better.”
Sawe had Kelvin Kiptum’s 2023 world record of 2:00:35 in his sights when he reached halfway in 1:00:12, but faded towards the end.
In the women’s race, Wanjiru sped away from the lead pack after 25 kilometers before finishing in 2:21:05.
Ethiopia’s Dera Dida followed three seconds behind Wanjiru, with Azmera Gebru, also of Ethiopia, coming third in 2:21:29.
Wanjiru’s time was 12 minutes slower than compatriot Ruth Chepng’etich’s world record of 2:09:56, which she set in Chicago in 2024.
