- The NDDC Director, Commercial and Industrial Development, Mrs. Lyna Okara and the NDDC Director, Akwa Ibom State Office, Engr. Evong Evong (middle), with participants during the NDDC digital empowerment ICT skills and online market access programme for women in Akwa Ibom State
By Emmanuel Thomas l Oct. 01, 2026
UYO, Akwa Ibom — In a major boost to regional enterprise development, the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) has trained and empowered 100 women in Akwa Ibom State with critical Information and Communication Technology (ICT) and digital marketing skills. The initiative is designed to transition local small and medium-scale enterprises into the global online marketplace.
The intensive two-day capacity-building workshop, which concluded in Uyo, the Akwa Ibom State capital, targeted female entrepreneurs across diverse sectors, including fashion design, catering, agriculture, photography, and retail services.
Speaking at the event, the NDDC Director of Commercial and Industrial Development, Mrs. Lyna Okara, highlighted the Commission’s strategic mandate to bridge the gender digital divide and catalyze sustainable economic growth within the Niger Delta region.
She explained that equipping women with practical digital capabilities remains essential for navigating the modern business landscape.
“We are here to train and graduate 100 women selected from Akwa Ibom State and teach them ICT skills for digital marketing and online businesses. This will help them take their products to the global market, where they can interact, network, and connect with potential customers,” Okara stated.
To ensure immediate practical application, each beneficiary received an Android smartphone as a starter pack. Mrs. Okara noted that these handheld devices will enable the women to establish official business pages, design promotional graphics, publish product catalogs, and engage directly with virtual clients.
She further charged the participants to act as digital ambassadors within their respective localities, urging them to step down the training to peers who could not attend.
“The resources may not go round to everyone, but those of you who are here today should ensure that others benefit. Let what you have learnt here today cascade to other people who do not have the opportunity to be here,” she urged.
Echoing these sentiments, the NDDC Director for the Akwa Ibom State Office, Mr. Evong Evong, stressed that modern business viability heavily depends on e-commerce adoption.
He expressed confidence that the acquired digital exposure would help the entrepreneurs expand their customer reach beyond geographical limits and tap into emerging international business opportunities.
The workshop featured technical hands-on modules led by ICT experts and industry practitioners. Lead facilitator Engr. Yireobong Akpaba guided the women through establishing professional online identities, managing corporate email addresses, and utilizing specialized business applications.
Notably, domain names were secured for all 100 participants to facilitate the immediate launch of their brand websites. Complementing this, ICT expert Mr. Godwin Sunday provided step-by-step instruction on applying digital tools to optimize daily business operations.
Expressing gratitude on behalf of the beneficiaries, Mrs. Obonodo Ini Uko commended the Commission for prioritizing women’s economic advancement and providing functional working tools alongside the knowledge.
Similarly, Esther Augustine, a participant and practicing photographer, described the training as a game-changer for youth-led enterprises.
“The ICT skills acquired during the training will help me restructure my photography business, improve my online presence, and reach more customers,” she remarked.
This capacity building program forms part of the NDDC’s ongoing socio-economic interventions directed at fostering self-reliance, driving job creation, and boosting regional trade across the Niger Delta.
