The Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of the Niger Delta Development Commission, Chief Samuel Ogbuku, Ph. D. has stated that his investiture/decoration as a UI@75 Ambassador Extraordinaire is an acknowledgement of the impact that the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) has made on the people of the Niger Delta.
He, therefore, dedicated the decoration to the Management and staff of the Commission for giving him the support and strength to achieve success.
Chief Ogbuku who spoke at his decoration in Port Harcourt assured that he would continue to serve the people with sincerity of purpose to ensure the continued enjoyment of the dividends of democracy.
He explained that the NDDC represents the mandate of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to ensure the development of the Niger Delta region.
He said the Commission complements the efforts of the governments of the nine states in the region.
According to the MD/CEO, the NDDC in the last twenty five years of its existence had built hospitals, schools, roads, jetties, bridges, and awarded scholarships to students of the region.
He described his investiture as the building of the bridge between the NDDC and the University of Ibadan, in the West and assured that the NDDC will interface with the University to continue to achieve its vision.
He said that the fact that the University of Ibadan found him worthy is a great honour because the University would never deal with charlatans but only with people who are credible and worthy to be associated with.
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Dr Ogbuku said the purpose of Nigerian universities should be research, especially into indigenous knowledge.
He said he would challenge universities in the region to collaborate with UI to find solutions to the medical, ecological, and agricultural challenges facing Africans.
He also charged the Universities to research into governance, tradition and culture which have been eroded by imported values.
The Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ibadan, Professor Kayode O. Adebowale, mni, FAS, fspsp, recalled that the University of Ibadan was established in 1948 as the premier University and had consistently maintained its leadership position in Nigeria and Africa.
He said the University had identified Dr Ogbuku as a humble and diligent gentleman who has made considerable impact on the development of the Niger Delta.
Professor Adebowale said the passion and actions of the MD/CEO align with the vision of UI and so the University found him worthy to be decorated as a UI@75 Ambassador Extraordinaire.
The Deputy Vice-Chancellor Administration and Chairman of the UI@75 Anniversary Committee, Professor Peter O. Olapegba, FNPA, fspsp, presented the letter of award and the expectations of the University to the new Ambassador Extraordinaire.
The Registrar of the University, Mr. Ganiyu Oke Saliu, fspsp, performed the decoration of the awardee on behalf of the University.
The very elaborate event was witnessed by the Management and staff of the NDDC as well as a large number of the members of the UI Alumni Association, Balyesa State Branch.
