By Moffat Ekoriko
For Samuel Ogbuku, a political scientist, gifted administrator, and managing director of the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, life is all about leaving a mark. Last year after a turned 49, he embarked on articulating his thoughts for the development of the Niger Delta region, which he can present to his fatherland as his 50th birthday gift. By the time his friends thought of how to celebrate his birthday, he had two books to unveil. Those books: Rethinking the Niger Delta, authored solely by him and Strategies and Imperatives for Developing the Niger Delta Region, written in collaboration with scholars from the region, speak to the intellectual thought behind Ogbuku’s transformation of the Niger Delta since January 2023.
There is no better validation of the value of the books than the words of President Bola Tinubu at their unveiling. His words: ‘In Dr Ogbuku’s case, we celebrate not just years, but a life of service, a life of scholarship, a life of achievement and you’ve been at it. And you were recognized for it almost 30 years ago. These two books are all about your strategy, your values and indeed your ability to execute.’
And that defines the essential Ogbuku, a man who with an uncanny ability to strategize and execute in equal depths. Take his record in the past 32 months at NDDC. At the time, he took over the leadership of NDDC, the Commission had gone through a rough patch. Matters were so bad that the federal government had to carry out a forensic audit on its operations. In appointing a new managing director, the Federal government had to search for a gifted hand who can reposition the Commission but also drive the development of the region. Ogbuku fitted the bill. He was a special assistant to a petroleum minister in his 20s, became the youngest chief of staff to a governor in the history of Nigeria, and functioned as a special adviser to the National Assembly. He had intellect, drive and experience, a cocktail not so easy to compound.
His first assignment was to breathe energy into the workforce. He met with the staff and challenged them to write a new script for the Commission and the region. He was smart to know that the journey of fast tracking the development of the region will depend on the strength and capacity of the staff. He quickly invested in better staff welfare, training and even the rejuvenation of the team which was aging. He also engaged KPMG Consultants to draw up a new operation manual for the team. He cleared backlogs of staff promotions and welfare matters.
With a happy and energised team, he launched out. He first reviewed abandoned legacy projects. By the time he took stock one year later, he had completed 92 infrastructure projects worth N84 billion across the nine mandates states. He embarked on a commissioning festival, so to speak. Impressed by his achievements, Senator Godswill Akpabio, the Senate President who as minister of the Niger Delta supervised NDDC during the last administration described him as ‘a gift to the Niger Delta.’
The projects included the 25.7 kilometre Ogbia Nembe road, which creates a road link to the ancient city state of Nembe, for the first time in living memory. Executed at a cost of N24 billion, the road cuts the travel time to Yenagoa, the Bayelsa State capital from 3 hours on dangerous water routes to a mere 45 minutes. It also opens up 14 communities for development.
Another key project is the 132KV Transmission Line and I32KV/33KV Substation electrification project, executed at a cost of N8.3 billion to optimise power supply to local government areas in the southern part of Ondo State. The electricity project complements the Federal Government’s effort in the power sector by improving power supply to Okitipupa, Igbokoda and other neighbouring communities in Ondo South Senatorial District with direct value chain in small and medium scale industries, job creation and consequently engender growth and development in Ondo State.
In Akwa Ibom State, he completed the 6.87 kilometre Iko – Iwuochang road in the southern part of the state. The road project consists of two lane single carriage way, a 600 metre bridge and side drains. The N10 billion virgin road project links 20 communities, hitherto separated by the Qua Iboe river.
In Abia State, NDDC he completed the the Obehie to Oke Ikpe – road reconstructed at a cost of N3.5 billion. The nine kilometre road restores the road link between Rivers and Akwa Ibom states, through Abia (Ukwa East/West).
These would have been enough to stand him out. But for a man of excellence, he had to do more. He overhauled the overseas scholarship scheme to break away with the past when NDDC scholars abroad were an embarrassment to the nation because of late remittance of fees. He instituted a system where scholars are now paid within a month of arriving in the their country of study. The scheme was narrowed to STEM courses and limited to those aged 40 and below. The latter requirement means the scholars have a useful work life of at least 20 years to invest in the development of the region.
He also instituted a monitoring and evaluation programme where senior officials of the Commission visit the schools to interact with the scholars and the school authorities. They gather information on the challenges faced by the students and their performance. So successful is the scheme that last year nine of those scholars made distinction in one university alone: Coventry University, United Kingdom.
He also revived the medical outreach scheme.
Perhaps, the most impactful of his work is the solar power street light project which has transformed hitherto gloomy night scenes in rural communities across the Niger Delta to carnival ambience. My community, Ikot Etim in Ukanafun Local Government of Akwa Ibom State is one perfect example.
At NDDC, Ogbuku has demonstrated a capacity that those who thought they knew him did not believe he had. He is a change agent. People across the Niger Delta who rallied to celebrate him at 50 were acknowledging the difference one public servant can make. He deserves all the accolades.
Moffat Ekoriko, is the publisher of the London based NewsAfrica magazine
