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NDDC Pledges Improved Service Delivery, Urges Staff To Prioritise Stakeholders

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NDDC Executive Director, Corporate Services, Hon. Ifedayo Abegunde, presents the integrity award to the NDDC Manager, MD’s Office, Mr. Benjamin Amafgha, during 2026 Customer Service Week at the NDDC Headquarters. With them are the NDDC Deputy Director, SERVICOM, Dr Irene Okezie (left) and the programme’s consultant, Pastor Benson Eghaire (right).

The Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) has reaffirmed its commitment to professionalism, innovation and improved service delivery, urging staff to prioritise the needs of stakeholders and communities across the Niger Delta.

The Executive Director, Corporate Services, NDDC, Ifedayo Abegunde, stated this in Port Harcourt during a programme organised to commemorate Customer Service Week.

Abegunde said excellent customer service remained central to the commission’s mandate and its commitment to responsive, people-oriented development in the oil-rich region.

He assured stakeholders that the commission would continue to deliver development projects and improve the welfare of communities across the Niger Delta.

According to him, the commission’s commitment to service delivery is reflected in projects executed over the past three years under the leadership of its Managing Director, Samuel Ogbuku, and the management team.

Abegunde also commended President Bola Tinubu for his leadership, noting that the Renewed Hope Agenda provided a foundation for economic growth, national unity and inclusive development.

The NDDC Deputy Director, SERVICOM, Irene Okezie, described Customer Service Week as an opportunity to celebrate customer service professionals and recognise their contributions to building trust, strengthening relationships and improving institutional performance.

She commended customer service personnel and frontline workers for their diligence, patience and dedication to assisting stakeholders, particularly under challenging circumstances.

Okezie said the commission was using the occasion to appreciate staff and stakeholders who had demonstrated exceptional commitment to the development of the region.

She disclosed that it was the first time the NDDC was observing Customer Service Week, expressing optimism that the initiative would provide a platform for continuous improvement in service delivery.

The Deputy Director, SERVICOM, NDDC Abuja Liaison Office, Kikelomo Aina, urged staff to demonstrate empathy towards vulnerable customers and extend assistance to people experiencing difficulties.

Aina said effective service delivery required staff to be accessible and willing to assist customers beyond routine expectations, adding that going the extra mile to help others could make a significant difference.

She, however, described such additional efforts as a personal choice that reflected a commitment to serving others.

The programme’s consultant, Pastor Benson Eghaire, emphasised the importance of teamwork, perseverance and determination in achieving organisational goals.

He urged staff to work collectively, remain resilient and demonstrate greater commitment to their responsibilities to improve efficiency and service delivery.

RIFF 2026 Unveils 33 Award Categories as 3,021 Films Compete

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The Rivers International Film Festival (RIFF) 2026 has unveiled its award categories, with 3,021 film submissions received from filmmakers across Africa and other parts of the world, underscoring the festival’s growing international reach.

The festival, scheduled to hold from October 29 to November 1 on Bonny Island, Rivers State, will recognise excellence in filmmaking, storytelling, acting, animation, technical production, documentary filmmaking and film tourism.

According to a statement signed by the Festival Director, Osunwa Kenneth Chigozie, the 2026 edition received 3,021 submissions, from which 356 films were selected and 136 nominated for awards, with 182 countries represented.

The festival announced that the awards would span various aspects of filmmaking, including technical craftsmanship, creative direction, performances and the use of cinema to promote tourism destinations.

Among the general and technical categories are Best Props, Best African Film, Best Make-up/Special Effects, Best Film for Tourism Promotion, Best Film Location and Best Costume.

The documentary categories include Best Documentary Title, Best Documentary Story, Best Sound Design, Best Cinematography, Best Editing, Best Director and Overall Best Documentary.

For feature-length productions, the awards include Best Story, Best Sound Design, Best Cinematography, Best Editing, Best Director, Best Short Film and Overall Best Film.

The acting categories comprise Best Supporting Actor, Best Supporting Actress, Best Actor and Best Actress, while the animation section features awards for Best Animation Director, Best Animated Short Film, Best Animated Feature-Length Film, Best Animated Story/Screenplay, Best Voice Performance in Animation, Best Character Design and Overall Best Animation.
Other categories include Best International Film and Best Narrative Film.

The festival said the awards were designed to recognise filmmakers for their creative vision, technical expertise, cultural expression and ability to tell compelling stories that resonate with audiences.

With the theme, “Film Tourism: A Pathway to Economic Development,” RIFF 2026 seeks to highlight the role of cinema in promoting destinations, showcasing cultural heritage and creating economic opportunities through tourism.

The statement said the festival’s vision extended beyond celebrating cinematic achievements to connecting cultures and encouraging the discovery of destinations through film.

“From Africa to the world. From stories to destinations. From film to economic opportunity,” the festival said in its announcement.
RIFF congratulated the selected filmmakers and nominees and commended its jury for their work in the selection and nomination process.

The festival directed members of the public to its Facebook page, RIFF Festivals, and TikTok handle, @riffestivals, for details of nominated films and their respective categories.

The four-day festival will hold on Bonny Island, an oil-producing community in Rivers State, from October 29 to November 1, 2026.

Banigo’s ₦100m Solar Project To Boost Healthcare Delivery In Degema

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A 50kW solar mini-grid installed at the upgraded Degema General Hospital in Rivers State is expected to improve healthcare delivery, reduce operating costs and ease the burden on patients who previously travelled to Port Harcourt for medical attention because of unreliable electricity supply.

The project, facilitated by Senator Ipalibo Harry Banigo, who represents Rivers West Senatorial District and chairs the Joint Committee on Health of the 10th National Assembly, has a 120kWh lithium battery storage capacity and is valued at ₦100 million.

Executed by Bidmusdruhill Nigeria Limited, the intervention is designed to provide reliable and sustainable electricity for operations at the Primary Healthcare Centre and the new Zonal Hospital.

Stakeholders and health workers in Degema Local Government Area commended Banigo for the initiative, noting that erratic power supply had hampered service delivery and forced some patients to seek medical attention in Port Harcourt.

The solar installation comprises 48kW of solar panels, a 50kW three-phase inverter and 120kWh lithium battery storage system, intended to ensure a more stable power supply for the health facilities.

The project is also expected to reduce dependence on the national grid and ease the financial pressure associated with conventional electricity supply and rising energy costs.

With a more dependable power source, the hospitals are expected to provide a better working environment for healthcare professionals and improve the delivery of essential services to residents of Degema and neighbouring communities.

The solar project forms part of Banigo’s broader interventions aimed at improving access to healthcare across Rivers West Senatorial District.
Under her Bringing Healthcare Home initiative, 6,862 health insurance cards have been distributed across the district to enable beneficiaries to access medical services at no cost.

Other interventions include the provision of medical equipment worth millions of naira to Degema General Hospital and the renovation of six primary healthcare centres in Iselema, Mbiama, Ataba, Isile-Ogono, Ochigbo and Koroma.

The senator has also facilitated free medical outreaches in Bonny and Degema local government areas.

Meanwhile, construction of a new healthcare centre at Ogonokom in Abua/Odual Local Government Area is ongoing.

A new emergency centre in Bonny, sponsored by Banigo and captured in the 2026 Appropriation Act, is also expected to commence soon.

The Degema solar mini-grid is expected to strengthen healthcare infrastructure in the riverine community, where dependable electricity is essential to improving hospital operations and bringing medical services closer to residents.

UNITAR-CIFAL, Rivers Alumni Group Call for End to Child Marriage

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…Stakeholders urge protection of girls’ education, enforcement of child rights law

The Director of the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) and Centre for International Training for Authorities and Leaders (CIFAL) Nigeria, Mrs Ihuoma Njemanze, has called for concerted efforts to end child marriage and other harmful practices that deprive girls of education and the opportunity to determine their future.
Njemanze made the call during the 2026 International Day of the Girl Child celebration organised by UNITAR-CIFAL Nigeria in partnership with the Rivers Secondary Schools Old Boys and Girls 1983 Set Association at Archdeacon Crowther Memorial Girls’ School (ACMGS), Elelenwo, Rivers State.

The celebration, held under the theme, “End Child Marriage and Invest in Girls’ Rights,” focused on protecting girls’ rights to education, personal development and equal opportunities.

Njemanze said the campaign against child marriage and the protection of girls’ freedom to learn, grow and shape their future aligned with the United Nations’ development objectives.
“We will keep talking about this until we achieve the goal,” she said.

The Director, UNITAR-CIFAL Nigeria, Mrs Ihuoma Njemanze.

She disclosed that the United Nations now had a training centre in Rivers State at Rivers State University, adding that UNITAR-CIFAL Nigeria was expanding its advocacy to communities and local government areas to promote the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). “We are going to the grassroots, to local governments across board, because we need to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals. We need to start from the bottom to the top, and schools are very important in attaining the SDGs. That is why we are here,” she said.

Njemanze commended individuals and organisations supporting advocacy initiatives and thanked the 1983 Set Association for partnering with the United Nations to advance its objectives.

In her welcome address, the Principal of ACMGS, Mrs Chinyere Ordu, described the campaign against child marriage as timely, noting that it would help girls take their rightful place in different spheres of society.

Mrs Chinyere Ordu, Principal, ACMGS, Elelenwo, Rivers State.


Ordu said the school, regarded as the premier girls’ secondary school east of the Niger, had produced numerous distinguished women who continued to make significant contributions to society.

She expressed appreciation to UNITAR-CIFAL Nigeria and the 1983 Set Association for bringing the advocacy programme to the school to educate and inspire the students.

The President of the association, Barrister Tubokomba Harry, represented by the Vice-President, Dr Stella Daso Oruebo, described the 2026 theme as a powerful call to action, stressing that investing in girls amounted to investing in the nation’s future.

Dr. Stella Daso Oruebo.

Harry urged the students to be cautious in their relationships with boys and to prioritise their education as a foundation for meaningful careers and responsible adulthood.

Speaking on “The Link Between Child Marriage and Education,” Dr. Stella Daso Oruebo warned that child marriage often cuts short girls’ education, limiting their opportunities and exposing them to economic hardship.
She illustrated the consequences with experiences from construction sites in Rivers State.

“In our construction sites here in Rivers State, we see girls who should be in SS3 carrying blocks with babies on their backs because marriage cut off their education,” she said.

Oruebo called on the government to establish free, safe and accessible secondary schools for girls and enforce the Child Rights Act (2003), which provides for 18 years as the minimum age of marriage.

Dr. Helen May Ogoun.

In a separate presentation titled “Leadership in a Male-Dominated Society: Her Voice, Future,” Dr Helen May Ogoun urged the students to believe in themselves and recognise their abilities, capabilities and potential to transform their lives and communities.

Ogoun said gender-based preferences had historically denied many girls access to education, particularly in communities where boys were given priority. “Where I come from, males are more preferred and celebrated. Boys are given the go to school while the girls stay at home. We want to change the narrative by using our voices and ideas,” she said.

Also speaking on “The Girl Child and the Law,” Barrister Ngozi Ajayi described the law as a shield for girls and urged them to understand and exercise their rights. She commended UNITAR-CIFAL Nigeria and the association for initiating the advocacy, saying the programme could help girls access information and support to address violations of their rights.

Ajayi disclosed that the Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA) had liaison offices in several local government areas of Rivers State, urging girls facing abuse or rights violations to seek assistance. “Tell other girls that are not here that FIDA now has liaison offices in most of the local government areas of Rivers State. Let your voices not be blocked; use our offices to get help,” she said.

Barr. Ngozi Ajayi.

Speaking with journalists at the event, the Secretary-General of the association, Dr Ibinabo Ogolo, commended UNITAR-CIFAL Nigeria for partnering with the group to tackle early marriage and promote the welfare of the girl child.

She said the association, whose members were alumni of different schools across Rivers State, was committed to giving back to society through mentorship and programmes designed to prepare young people for a better future.

“We are proud alumni from different schools in Rivers State committed to giving back. We are passionate about mentoring young people in secondary schools. Our goal is to inspire the next generation for a better life in the future. This is part of what we do,” she said.

Mrs Joyce Ndigbara, National President, ACMGS Old Girls Association.

Also in attendance was the National President, ACMGS Old Girls’ Association, Mrs Joyce Ndigbara

Highlights of the programme included an interactive session between the students and United Nations officials, as well as the screening of videos depicting child marriage experiences in African countries.

Amaechi To ADC Members: End primary disputes, Unite To Win 2027 Elections

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ADC

Vice-presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Rotimi Amaechi, has urged party members to put disputes arising from the party’s primaries behind them and focus on winning the 2027 general elections.

Amaechi made the call in Abuja on Friday during the inauguration of the party’s Presidential Campaign Council (PCC), where he stressed the need for unity, determination and collective commitment to the party’s electoral ambition.

“If we are still quarrelling about the party’s primary, it is over. We have to win elections,” he said.
The former Rivers State governor urged members of the campaign council to recognise the enormity of the task before them, warning that the opposition must be prepared to overcome challenges in its bid to unseat the incumbent government.

He said incumbent administrations often made the mistake of assuming that their positions were unassailable and that they could not be removed from power.
“Incumbent governments often make the mistake of believing they are invincible and cannot be removed,” Amaechi said.

Drawing from his political experiences during previous campaigns under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) era, Amaechi recalled alleged attempts by security officials to restrict his movements while participating in opposition activities.

He recounted an incident at Akure Airport where, according to him, a military officer advised him to leave the area because his safety could not be guaranteed.

Amaechi also recalled another encounter at the airport in which he said he was prevented from flying, adding that the intervention of political leaders helped resolve the situation.

He said such experiences demonstrated the difficulties opposition politicians could encounter during election campaigns and underscored the need for courage, persistence and solidarity among party members.

The ADC vice-presidential candidate urged members of the campaign council to draw lessons from previous political struggles and remain focused on their electoral responsibilities.

He charged them to work together, remain committed to the party’s objectives and prepare to confront unforeseen challenges as the 2027 general elections approach.

Supreme Court Ruling: INEC Will Wield Big Stick Against Parties That breached Register Rule

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The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has warned political parties that field candidates whose names were not contained in the membership registers submitted to the commission that such candidates may not be allowed to contest the 2027 general elections.

The commission also ruled out the possibility of parties benefiting from violations of the Electoral Act by substituting candidates whose eligibility is affected by the breach.

INEC National Commissioner and Chairman of its Information and Voter Education Committee, Mohammed Haruna, disclosed this on Wednesday while appearing on Trust TV’s Daily Politics programme.

Haruna’s warning followed the September 24, 2026 judgment of the Supreme Court, which affirmed the constitutionality of Sections 77(5), 77(6) and 77(7) of the Electoral Act 2026 and upheld INEC’s revised timetable and schedule of activities for the 2027 elections.

According to him, political parties that failed to comply with the law on the submission of their membership registers should not be allowed to circumvent the consequences by replacing affected candidates. He said allowing such substitutions would amount to permitting a party to benefit from an offence it had committed.

“It’s like you committed an offence. And then, you come and benefit from it,” Haruna said, recalling previous disputes involving political parties and candidates in Zamfara and Plateau states.

“The law was very clear. Once you do that kind of thing, you cannot benefit from it. You are benefiting from it if you are able to substitute a candidate.”

The commissioner said the implication of the position being considered by INEC was that some political parties could be left without candidates for certain elective positions, including governorship and legislative seats.

He explained that INEC had interviewed candidates across the various levels of the 2027 elections and checked their membership status against the registers submitted by their political parties.

“All the candidates, all the way to the Houses of Assembly, we interviewed them. If their names are not on the party register, they were not members of the party at the time that they contested for those tickets,” he said.

Haruna, however, said INEC was yet to make a definitive pronouncement on the practical implications of the Supreme Court judgment, explaining that the commission needed to obtain and study the Certified True Copy (CTC) of the judgment and receive legal advice.

He said the commission had only recently obtained the CTC and was being deliberately cautious because of past instances in which purported court judgments had been forged.

“You can’t be too careful with these things because even when you see copies and they tell you it’s a CTC, it may be forged,” he said.

“We’ve seen instances where people have even gone, have the audacity to forge a Supreme Court judgment. So, we have to be very careful.”

The national commissioner said INEC expected to be able to make a definite pronouncement on the judgment by Tuesday next week.
INEC raises alarm over threats ahead of polls.

Meanwhile, INEC expressed concern over the increasingly hostile tone of political campaigns ahead of the 2027 elections, particularly threats allegedly being issued by some political actors.

Haruna said such statements were disturbing regardless of the number of people making them, stressing that no participant in the electoral process should be subjected to threats.

“Those kind of things, even if it’s a minority, it’s a cause for concern, because nobody should be threatened at all,” he said.

He added that inflammatory statements and actions should concern not only INEC but all Nigerians, including the ruling party.

The commission, he said, was also working to secure the funds required to conduct the 2027 elections, stressing that time was running out.
“We don’t have the luxury of time any more,” Haruna said.

Rivers LG Workers Begin Warning Strike, Barricade Council Secretariats Over Verification Exercise

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Entrance of Ikwerre Local Government Council, Rivers State, barricaded on Thursday morning.

Local government workers across Rivers State have commenced a three-day warning strike over issues arising from the ongoing verification exercise in the 23 local government areas, with the industrial action leading to disruptions at some council headquarters and intervention by security agencies.

The action followed a resolution of the State Executive Council of the Nigerian Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE) at an emergency meeting held on Wednesday, October 7.

In a directive sighted by The Atlantic Bell, NULGE ordered all employees serving in the 23 local government areas to embark on a three-day warning strike with effect from midnight of Thursday, October 8.
The union directed all local government workers, including principal officers and other staff, to fully comply with the industrial action.

It also mandated all State Administrative Council members and branch chairmen to enforce full compliance and effectively mobilise workers throughout the strike. NULGE, however, advised workers to remain calm, peaceful and orderly during the period of the industrial action.

The union said the decision to embark on the warning strike followed issues and concerns arising from the implementation of the LGA verification exercise which, in the view of the State Executive Council, require urgent attention and appropriate action.
The development comes against the backdrop of growing anxiety among local government workers over the ongoing audit of personnel and payrolls across the state.

The verification exercise has already uncovered what the committee conducting the exercise described in its preliminary findings as more than 4,000 illegal employments across the 23 local government councils.

A large number of alleged ghost workers have also reportedly been identified since the exercise commenced. As part of the verification process, workers have been asked to submit their employment details and bank statements, among other documents, to establish the authenticity of their appointments and payroll records.

The exercise has generated considerable uncertainty among council workers, particularly over the possibility of disengagement of employees whose records are found to be irregular.

The situation has also been linked to delays in the payment of salaries, adding to the concerns of workers who are demanding clarification and resolution of the issues surrounding the verification exercise.

Following the commencement of the warning strike, workers in some parts of the state reportedly barricaded council headquarters as they insisted on the implementation of the union’s directive and expressed their concerns over the verification process.

The development has attracted the intervention of security agencies at some council headquarters, resulting in tension in some locations.

In particular, the situation in Ikwerre Local Government Area reportedly became tense as security personnel moved in to restore order amid the gathering of workers around the council headquarters.
There were reports of the use of teargas by the police during the confrontation, as security personnel sought to disperse the workers.

The development has heightened concerns among the workers, who have urged the authorities to exercise restraint and allow the industrial dispute to be resolved through dialogue.

The NULGE directive, however, specifically urged its members to remain peaceful and orderly throughout the three-day action, suggesting that the union’s immediate objective is to draw attention to the issues arising from the verification exercise rather than create a breakdown of law and order.

The union’s position is that the concerns arising from the implementation of the exercise have reached a point requiring urgent intervention by the authorities.

The workers are particularly concerned about the distinction between genuine employees and those whose appointments may be considered illegal or irregular.

While there appears to be broad support for efforts to eliminate ghost workers and sanitise the local government payroll, workers have urged the government to ensure that legitimate employees are not affected by the exercise.

They have also called for a transparent verification process that allows affected workers to present their employment records and respond to any queries concerning their appointments.

The discovery of more than 4,000 alleged illegal employments has meanwhile raised wider questions about the circumstances surrounding the appointments, including how such names came to be captured and retained on the payrolls of the 23 councils.

The outcome of the exercise is expected to determine the actual workforce of the councils and potentially have significant implications for their personnel costs and monthly wage obligations.

The current industrial action therefore places pressure on both the government and the workers to resolve the outstanding issues surrounding the verification exercise.

For the workers, the immediate concern is the protection of legitimate employment and the resolution of issues affecting salary payments.

For the government, the exercise is aimed at establishing an accurate and credible local government workforce and eliminating ghost workers and alleged illegal employments from the payroll.

NULGE has directed its members to remain on the warning strike for three days while urging them to conduct themselves peacefully and orderly.

The unfolding situation is being closely watched as the government and local government workers await further engagement on the issues that triggered the industrial action.

Seven Days in Captivity: 20 Abducted NYSC Prospective Members Regain Freedom

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Twenty prospective members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), abducted while travelling from Ibadan, Oyo State, to their orientation camp in Abia State, have regained their freedom after seven days in captivity.

The victims, who were kidnapped along the Owerri-Onitsha Road in Umunoha, Imo State, are currently receiving medical attention at the Department of State Services (DSS) Hospital in Owerri.

Their release was confirmed on Wednesday by the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Rasidi Ladoja, and the Managing Director of Uko Akwa Ibom Motors Nigeria Limited, Isiah Akpan.

The 20 graduates were travelling in two buses from Ibadan to the NYSC orientation camp in Bende, Abia State, when gunmen reportedly attacked the vehicles in the early hours of Thursday.

The abductors were said to have initially demanded a ransom of N50 million for each victim, amounting to N1 billion, before reportedly reducing the demand to N5 million per person, or N100 million for the 20 victims.

Following their release, the victims were taken to the DSS Hospital in Owerri for medical assessment and treatment.

The Director-General of the NYSC, Brigadier-General Olakunle Oluseye Nafiu, visited the victims at the facility to assess their condition and offer support.

Nafiu was accompanied during the visit by the Imo State Commissioner of Police, the Director of the DSS and the Commander of the 34 Artillery Brigade, Imo State.

The NYSC director-general also addressed the rescued prospective corps members during the visit.

The abduction had raised fresh concerns over the safety of young Nigerians travelling to orientation camps, particularly amid growing insecurity along major highways in the South-East.

The victims were scheduled to report to their orientation camp in Abia State when the journey was disrupted by the attack.

UNITAR CIFAL Nigeria, Rivers Schools’ 1983 Set Association Move to End Child Marriage, Empower Rivers Girls

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Ahead of the 2026 International Day of the Girl Child, the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR)-CIFAL Nigeria, in collaboration with the Rivers Secondary Schools Old Boys and Girls 1983 Set Association, will engage students of Archdeacon Crowther Memorial Girls’ School (ACMGS), Elelenwo, Rivers State, Nigeria in a campaign against child marriage and for greater investment in girls’ rights.

The engagement, scheduled for Thursday, October 8, is expected to provide a platform for dialogue, mentorship and knowledge-sharing aimed at encouraging girls to understand and defend their rights, value education and develop the confidence to determine their future.

The Director of UNITAR-CIFAL Nigeria, Mrs Ihuoma Njemanze, disclosed this in a statement issued ahead of the International Day of the Girl Child, marked annually on October 11.

Njemanze said the initiative was designed to draw attention to the rights, potential and leadership capacity of girls, while encouraging stakeholders to create an environment where every girl can grow up safe, educated and empowered.

According to her, the engagement at ACMGS would focus on helping the students appreciate the importance of education, build self-confidence and recognise their capacity to contribute meaningfully to their communities and society.

The initiative comes as the global community prepares to mark the 2026 International Day of the Girl Child, an observance established by the United Nations to highlight the rights and challenges confronting girls and promote opportunities for their development.

The 2026 observance places particular emphasis on ending child marriage and investing in girls’ rights, drawing attention to the continuing barriers that prevent many girls from completing their education, making informed decisions about their lives and reaching their full potential.

Child marriage remains a major concern in efforts to advance girls’ education and protection. Early marriage can interrupt schooling, expose girls to health and social risks and limit their economic opportunities, while reinforcing cycles of poverty and inequality.

Beyond legislation and policy interventions, advocates have increasingly stressed the importance of educating girls about their rights and equipping them with the confidence and knowledge to make informed choices about their futures.

It is against this background that CIFAL Nigeria and the 1983 Set Association are taking the International Day of the Girl Child message directly to students, using mentorship and interaction as tools for empowering young girls.

The organisers said the ultimate goal was to contribute to a future in which every girl is safe, educated and empowered to realise her full potential.

The programme will hold at Archdeacon Crowther Memorial Girls’ School, Elelenwo, on October 8, three days before the global observance.

NYSC Urges Corps Members To Embrace Skills Training For Economic Independence

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Moses Oleghe, Rivers State NYSC coordinator.

The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) has urged corps members deployed to Rivers State to take its Skill Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development (SAED) programme seriously, saying the training could shape their economic future and promote self-reliance.

The NYSC Rivers State Coordinator, Moses Oleghe, gave the advice yesterday during the official opening and flag-off of SAED activities for the 2026 Batch C Stream I orientation course at the state orientation camp.

Oleghe said the in-camp and post-camp training provided corps members with an opportunity to acquire practical skills capable of preparing them for economic independence, growth and sustainability after their service year.

He urged the corps members not to treat the programme as another routine aspect of the orientation course, stressing that the commitment they demonstrated towards skills acquisition could influence their future livelihoods.

NYSC members listening to the lecture.

According to him, “what they do with SAED can determine how happy or sad” they may be in the future.

The state coordinator also cautioned the corps members against allowing peer pressure or distractions from friends and colleagues to derail their participation in the programme.

He said: “The future belongs to those who prepare for it.”
Oleghe encouraged the corps members to identify areas of interest among the various skills offered under the SAED programme and devote themselves to mastering them.

Earlier, the new SAED Officer of NYSC in Rivers State, Mrs Ngozi Njoku-Nwogu, urged the corps members to maximise the knowledge and practical experience provided by the programme’s master trainers.

Njoku-Nwogu advised them to leverage the expertise of the trainers as a foundation for building sustainable livelihoods and achieving economic independence.
She said the skills acquired during the service year could provide corps members with opportunities beyond formal employment and help them become self-reliant entrepreneurs.

The SAED programme is designed to equip corps members with vocational and entrepreneurial skills that can enhance their employability and enable them to establish businesses after completing the mandatory national service.

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