NSE Tasks NDDC On Capacity Building

Omoku branch of the Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE) has
been inaugurated with a charge on the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC)
to take capacity building as its priority and ensure sustainable development of
the Niger Delta region.

At the ceremony which took place at Omoku, headquarters of
Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area of Rivers State last weekend, the
Executive General Manager, Corporate Services of Total Exploration and
Production, Engr. Vincent Nnadi underscored the need for NDDC to concentrate on
sustainable development of the Niger Delta region as the main trust of its
establishment.

Delivering a paper titled “Repositioning Niger Delta Youths
Towards Engineering Education”, Engineer Nnadi said it was more important for
NDDC and other stakeholders to build the people’s capacity to enable them key
into the main task of developing the region which is the trust of the
commission.

“I am calling on NDDC to concentrate on the vision for
sustainable development and to do this, I think it is more important to build
the capacity of the people. NDDC has the means to cause a change in the
direction of the youths. They should partner with professional bodies like the
NSE to build corps of engineers for the Niger Delta, Nnadi said.

Nnadi, who was speaking at the inauguration of the
branch/investiture of Engr. George Okoroma as the pioneer chairman of the Omoku
branch stressed the need to create an enabling environment that would empower
Niger Delta youths to take control of their wealth through positive
participation in the affairs of the region.

In his speech, the Managing Director of Total Upstream
companies in Nigeria, Mr. Guy Maurice, represented by Engr. Anthony Abolarin
described the Omoku branch as a ‘petroleum branch’ with 99 per cent engineering
activities.

According to him, Omoku is at the centre of gravity of oil
industry and the highest producer of oil and gas in Nigeria with a group of
engineers capable of turning around the activities of the society.

Also speaking, the President of NSE, Engr. Mustafa Shehu
charged the new branch to always organise research programmes, workshops,
seminars as a way of keeping its members abreast of new development in their
profession, reiterating his administration’s determination to take the society
to a higher level.

In his remarks, the Port Harcourt branch chairman of  NSE, Engr Denis Dania commended the Omoku
branch chairman, Engr. George Okoroma and his team for their landmark
achievement as a branch and promised to support them to grow.

In his acceptance speech, the Omoku branch chairman Engr.
George Okoroma pledges the determination of the branch to keep the society’s
flag flying in the area and thanked the national body for approving the
establishment of the branch.

Highlights of the occasion were the administration of oaths
of office on the pioneer executive council of the branch and the commissioning
of its secretariat situated at Royal Fortress Hotel, Omoku.

Shedie Okpara