Emmanuel Ukudolo I Tuesday, October 28, 2025
PORT HARCOURT, Nigeria — The Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) has signaled a renewed focus on institutional integrity and adherence to international best practices, launching a specialized training to enhance the professional conduct of its staff in dealings across the volatile but resource-rich region.
The agency’s Managing Director, Dr. Samuel Ogbuku, articulated the move, stressing a commitment to delivering “excellent services and a dignified engagement” with the Commission’s diverse stakeholders throughout the Niger Delta.
Dr. Ogbuku, whose remarks were delivered by the Executive Director for Corporate Services, Hon. Ifedayo Abegunde, used the three-day Protocol and Protection Bootcamp in Port Harcourt to emphasize the necessity of integrity and excellence in the Commission’s dealings. He reminded staff that the program was designed not just to enhance knowledge, but to strengthen their collective understanding of diplomatic protocol, security awareness, and the standards that define public service decorum.
The push for organizational order comes as the NDDC, a federal agency tasked with developing the oil-producing region, seeks to bolster its institutional image and streamline its operations.
Experts at the bootcamp underscored the strategic importance of formal protocol in transforming the agency’s standing. Dr. Emmanuel Metuaghan, the keynote speaker, highlighted that proper protocol defines organizational values, promotes global best practices, and is essential for enhancing partnerships and opening international opportunities. He noted that the NDDC had successfully “built institutional trust in recent times,” suggesting the training was a continuation of that effort.
Further reinforcing this push for order and decorum, Ambassador Lawrence Obisakin, a former Nigerian Ambassador to the Republic of Benin, described protocol as the essential procedure for promoting efficiency and upholding the dignity of office. He offered pointed, practical advice to attendees, urging them to possess political awareness and maintain a high standard of dressing, stating: “How you dress is how you will be addressed.”
The NDDC boss urged participants to utilize the training to equip themselves with the necessary skills and knowledge to effectively represent the Commission in all future engagements.