Gov. Hope Uzodimma of Imo has said that the establishment of the Niger Delta Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Trade, Mines and Agriculture (NDCCITMA) will step up a holistic economic development in the Niger Delta region.

Uzodimma said this at a sensitisation workshop on the launch of NDCCITMA, organised by the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) in Owerri on Wednesday.

The governor was represented at the event by his deputy, Chinyere Ekomaru.

He said that NDCCITMA would serve as a catalyst for innovation, entrepreneurship and collaboration, fostering a vibrant ecosystem that benefits all stakeholders.

The governor further said that the initiative was in line with the state government’s vision of creating a region that is economically strong, socially stable and environmentally sustainable, where businesses thrive.

In an address, the managing director of NDDC, Samuel Ogbuku, said that NDCCITMA was established to stand in the gap between the commission and entrepreneurs to provide the support needed to sustain businesses, which cannot meet the stringent conditions of financial institutions.

Mr Ogbuku also said that the successful establishment of the chambers would complement the on-going projects engineered to positively affect the lives of the people of the region.

“The activities of the chambers will positively influence development of robust transport systems, manufacturing, merchandising, mining, marine and food security for our families.

“We intend to work with the people to bring down the cost of food to affordable levels in order to improve the health of our people,” Mr Ogbuku said.

He further said that the commission, through NDCCITMA, would establish a well-structured internship placement system that guarantees placement for young graduates leaving school.

He said that the strategy would help fight the unemployment epidemic and restore hope to the Niger Delta people.

In a paper presented at the event, the NDCCITMA secretary, Solomon Edebiri, said the initiative would provide access to capacity building through training, retraining, internship and apprenticeship for the Niger Delta people.

Mr Edebiri said that the chambers would partner with the existing chambers of commerce in the region to provide a platform for strategic partnerships between organisations within and outside the region for economic growth.

Earlier, the NDDC executive director of projects, Victor Antai, said the NDCCITMA initiative was poised to revolutionise business in the Niger Delta and accelerate economic growth.

Mr Antai, represented by the director of commercial and industrial development, Nosiri Godwin, urged business groups to embrace the new development.

NDCCITMA was launched in Port Harcourt on September 26.

(NAN)