Stakeholders To Chart Course For Niger Delta

To realise the mission of the President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration of providing an enduring political blueprint geared towards a more lasting peace and sustainable development in the Niger Delta region, the Office of the Vice President is organizing a 2-day Stakeholders’ Summit in collaboration with the Ministry of Niger Delta, the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), the Presidential Amnesty Programme Office, the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) and the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC).

A release by the Secretary of the Planning Committee, Mr.Donald B. Wokoma indicated that the theme of the programme, which is scheduled for Monday 26 and Tuesday 27 September 2016 at the NAF Conference Centre, Abuja is Towards Sustainable Peace and Development in the Niger Delta.

The three thematic areas of focus are Development, Security Stabilisation, as well as Public Leadership and Governance.

The Summit, according to the release, would bring together at least 350 participants, carefully drawn from across various groups of critical stakeholders such as traditional leaders, government, elected and appointed political representatives, party leaders, ex-agitators, ethnic nationalities, opinion leaders, youth groups, women groups, civil society organisations elder statesmen and women, investors, the diplomatic community, development agencies, IOCs, religious leaders, among others.

Speakers at the event  would include HRH Alfred Papapreye Diete-Spiff, Amayanabo of Twon-Brass, and first Military Governor of Rivers State; Mrs. Olatokunbo Ige, Executive Director, UN Regional Centre for Peace and Disarmament in Africa (UNREC); Mr. Seriake Dickson, Executive Governor of Bayelsa State; Mr. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, Minister of Transport and Former Governor of Rivers State; Dr. Kamil Kayode Kamaludeen, Country Director, UNDP Liberia, and Ambassador Joe Keshi, DG BRACED Commission who was the former Chairman, UBAGroup.

Others include the Pioneer Executive Director/CEO, TY Danjuma Foundation, Ms. Thelma Ekiyor who is currently Founder/Executive Director, Afrigrants Resources Ltd; Mrs. Folusho Olaniyan, OON, Former MD/CEO UTC Nig Plc; and, Mr. Seun Onigbinde, Managing Partner, BudgiT. Experts from government in the core sectors critical to the objectives of the Summit such as the Honourable Minister for Petroleum Resources, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu; the Honourable Minister for Agriculture & Natural Resources, Chief Audu Ogbe and a host of others are also expected to share their experience with the participants.

Some of the issues that will come under discussion are: Achieving a Consensus on the Core Development Needs in the Niger Delta; Challenges and Opportunities in Promoting Concerted Development in the Niger Delta; Diversifying the Economy of the Niger Delta Beyond Oil; Cross-Border Trade and Foreign Exchange Income Opportunities from Agric Value Chains in the Niger Delta; Tourism and Entertainment as drivers of economic growth; the politics of and in the Niger Delta: What can we do differently?; Community-based Policing and the Role of Stakeholders in Peace Building; Prioritizing ethics and value re-orientation of young people for entrepreneurship and leadership development, among others.

The Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo,GCON, will deliver the Keynote Address titled: Our Commitment to Sustainable Peace and Development in the Niger Delta.