The Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Dr Samuel Ogbuku, has received a Special Award of Excellence for his commitment to gender equality and the advancement of women across the Niger Delta region.
The award was presented to Ogbuku at the 2026 Bayelsa State Convention of the National Council of Women Societies (NCWS), held at the Cultural Centre, Yenagoa, with the theme, “Women: Crown for Influence; Your Voice, Your Values, Your Vision.”
A statement issued on Wednesday by Seledi Thompson-Wakama, Director, Corporate Affairs of the NDDC indicated that the recognition came against the backdrop of growing calls for greater inclusion of women in leadership, economic empowerment and social development.
Delivering the keynote address at the convention, Prof. Oyintonyo Michael-Olomu urged women to deploy their voices as instruments of positive influence, leadership and social transformation.
She said women were naturally equipped for leadership and should use their influence to promote unity, uplift others and contribute meaningfully to society, rather than deploy their positions to undermine others.
According to her, meaningful influence must be anchored on strong values, stressing that character and values determine the extent to which individuals can achieve success and make a positive impact.
She also underscored the importance of vision, noting that women needed a clear sense of purpose and direction to effectively influence their families, communities and wider society.
Also speaking at the convention, the wife of the Bayelsa State Governor, Dr (Mrs) Gloria Douye Diri, reminded women of the significance of the “crown” they carry, urging them to recognise that their conduct and public presentation reflect their character and values.
The highlight of the event was the presentation of the Award of Excellence to Ogbuku by the NCWS in recognition of his commitment to gender equality.
The award was presented by the First Lady of Bayelsa State, Dr (Mrs) Douye Diri.
Ogbuku, who was unable to receive the award personally, was represented by the NDDC Director of Culture and Women Affairs, Mrs Ahunna Imoni.
Imoni expressed appreciation to the NCWS for recognising the NDDC chief executive, describing the award as a well-deserved acknowledgement of his efforts to improve the lives of women in the Niger Delta.
She said Ogbuku had consistently demonstrated commitment to women’s advancement through programmes and interventions focused on skills acquisition, healthcare and other areas capable of improving their livelihoods and wellbeing.
Imoni noted that under Ogbuku’s leadership, the NDDC had continued to support women across the Niger Delta, stressing that the Commission remained committed to expanding interventions aimed at empowering women and improving their quality of life.
The recognition, she added, would further encourage the Commission to strengthen its gender-focused programmes and ensure that women remain central to its development interventions across the region.
The award also underscores the growing importance of gender inclusion in the development agenda of the Niger Delta, where women play critical roles in household welfare, agriculture, entrepreneurship, community development and other areas of economic activity.
For the NDDC, the recognition provides further impetus to its efforts to ensure that development interventions translate into tangible opportunities for women and other vulnerable groups across the region.
