The Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Dr Samuel Ogbuku, has urged youths in the region to harness Artificial Intelligence (AI) to create enterprises, solve local problems and build sustainable livelihoods rather than remain dependent on scarce employment opportunities.

Ogbuku gave the charge yesterday while delivering the keynote address at the opening of the NDDC Artificial Intelligence Training and Capacity Building for Innovative Opportunities in Port Harcourt.

Speaking on the theme, “From the Creeks of the Niger Delta to the Clouds of Possibilities,” Ogbuku, who was represented by his Chief of Staff, Rev. Obegha Oworibo, said the rapid transformation of the global economy by AI presented an opportunity for young people in the Niger Delta to reposition themselves for the future.

He said the NDDC was committed to creating an environment where “skills meet opportunity, ideas meet markets, and innovation meets investment,” stressing that the Commission’s mandate extended beyond physical infrastructure to the development of human capacity.

“The world of work is changing rapidly. Artificial Intelligence is transforming how people learn, create, conduct business, and solve problems,” he said.

According to him, the growing accessibility of AI tools means that individuals and small businesses can now perform tasks that previously required substantial time, resources or teams of people.

Ogbuku challenged young people to move beyond merely observing technological change and become active participants in shaping it.

“The important question is not simply whether Artificial Intelligence will change our world. It already has. The question is whether our young people will merely watch that change take place, or whether they will acquire the knowledge and confidence to participate in it and shape it,” he said.

He said the NDDC considered human capital development as a critical component of its intervention in the Niger Delta, adding that the Commission wanted to transform young people from job seekers into opportunity creators.

“We want to help move our young people from being job seekers to opportunity creators, from being consumers of technology to creators with technology for sustainable economic empowerment,” he stated.

Ogbuku urged participants to see knowledge and creativity as resources capable of generating greater and more sustainable wealth than dependence on the region’s traditional oil economy.

“For generations, the Niger Delta has been known for the oil beneath its soil. Today, I want our young people to recognise that there is another resource with enormous potential: the knowledge, creativity, data and intelligence within their minds,” he said.

He added: “Oil can be depleted, but knowledge can multiply. And while previous generations drilled the earth for crude, this generation has the opportunity to drill its own future.”

The NDDC boss said the AI training was designed not only to impart technical skills but also to change the mindset of young people across the region.

He envisaged a situation where a young woman in Cross River State could build a digital business serving clients outside Nigeria, while entrepreneurs in Ondo State and other parts of the Niger Delta could deploy AI to improve existing businesses and create new solutions.

“We want a generation capable of using technology to develop solutions in agriculture, education, healthcare, environmental sustainability, creative industries, finance and many other areas that affect our communities,” he said.

The Director, Department of Information Technology and Innovation, NDDC, Engr. Emeka Ani, described the programme as a strategic investment in the future of the Niger Delta.

Ani said the initiative reflected the Commission’s commitment to equipping young graduates and unemployed youths with digital competencies needed to compete in an increasingly technology-driven global economy.

He said participants were expected to translate the knowledge acquired into businesses, career opportunities and innovative solutions that would ultimately improve livelihoods across the region.

“This programme is an opportunity to redefine your future. Embrace it with commitment, discipline, and a willingness to learn. The future belongs to those who innovate, adapt, and continuously acquire new knowledge,” Ani stated.

The Lead Consultant for the programme, Mr Francis Abayomi, commended the NDDC leadership for using technology and skills development to promote productive engagement among youths and other stakeholders in the Niger Delta.

He said the initiative demonstrated the Commission’s commitment to empowering the region’s people and promoting its long-term economic progress and stability.