The Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) has reaffirmed its commitment to advancing women’s economic empowerment, declaring that investing in women is central to achieving sustainable development, stronger families and inclusive economic growth across the Niger Delta.
Speaking at the 2026 International Women’s Day celebration in Owerri, the Imo State Representative on the NDDC Board, Dr. Kyrian Uchegbu, said the Commission was deliberately equipping women with the skills and knowledge needed to succeed in agriculture, entrepreneurship and international trade before granting them access to financial support.
According to him, the Commission has already introduced an Agricultural Investment Fund targeted at women, stressing that capacity building is essential to ensure beneficiaries make productive use of available opportunities.
“This International Women’s Day training is a preparatory programme for what the NDDC is ready to do for women. If they are not adequately prepared before accessing the funds, they may not get it right,” Uchegbu said.
He explained that the training was designed to position women to benefit from the Commission’s expanding programmes, particularly opportunities in the export of agro-based products, thereby enabling them to become drivers of economic growth within their communities.
Also speaking, the Director of the NDDC Imo State Office, Mr. Patrick Obayelu, described International Women’s Day as more than a celebration, saying it was an opportunity to recognise the invaluable contributions of women while renewing the commitment to gender equality and inclusive development.
He noted that women continue to distinguish themselves in leadership, governance, education, business, science, healthcare and community development through resilience, innovation and dedication.
According to him, building a society where every woman and girl can realise her full potential requires sustained collaboration between government institutions and other stakeholders.
The Imo State Commissioner for Health and Social Services, Dr. Chioma Egu, commended the NDDC for bringing the initiative to the state, saying the programme had provided women with practical knowledge that would strengthen their businesses and improve their livelihoods.
Participants also received specialised training on developing export-ready businesses from the Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC), while the Board Secretary of the Niger Delta Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Trade, Mines and Agriculture (NDCCITMA), Dr. Solomon Edebiri, delivered lectures on business growth and sustainability.
One of the beneficiaries, Mrs. Nkiruka Nwosu, described the training as transformative, saying it had equipped her with practical skills to better manage her interior decoration business.
“The teachings have been very enlightening. I have learnt how to manage my staff and my finances to sustain my business,” she said.
At a similar event in Umuahia, the NDDC Director of Youths and Women Affairs, Mrs. Ahunna Imoni, said the Commission remained steadfast in creating opportunities that would enable women to achieve economic independence and contribute more meaningfully to regional development.
She described women as indispensable partners in nation-building, adding that the Commission’s annual International Women’s Day programme reflects its recognition of the resilience, creativity and enterprise of women across the Niger Delta.
Imoni urged women to embrace innovation, build sustainable businesses, understand their rights and take advantage of emerging economic opportunities.
She maintained that empowering women goes beyond promoting gender equality, insisting that it strengthens families, stimulates community development and lays the foundation for sustainable economic growth across the Niger Delta.
