- The NDDC Director, Youth Sports, Culture and Women Affairs, Mrs Imoni Ahunna (right), presenting a certificate of participation to Abayi Godwin during the NDDC Empowerment outreach for youth and women with disabilities in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
By Emmanuel Thomas l Thursday, Oct.01, 2026
PORT HARCOURT — In line with its mandate to foster equitable growth and socio-economic transformation across the Niger Delta region, the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) has restated its unwavering commitment to inclusive development, specifically prioritizing Persons Living with Disabilities (PWDs).
The Commission affirmed this position during a specialized empowerment outreach organized for youths and women living with disabilities in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
The initiative, structured to mark the International Day for Persons with Disabilities, aimed to enhance practical skills, boost economic self-reliance, and accelerate the active participation of PWDs in regional decision-making processes.
Speaking at the event, the Director of the NDDC Rivers State Office, Engr. Okezie Ule—who was represented by Mrs. Patience Opuebi—emphasized that the Commission remains deliberate about integrating PWDs into its strategic planning and development programs across the Niger Delta.
According to him, the agency recognizes that sustainable regional growth cannot be achieved while marginalizing vulnerable demographics. By targeted skill acquisition and capacity building, the NDDC seeks to bridge inequality gaps and create sustainable livelihoods for persons with special needs.
Corroborating this stance, the NDDC Director of Culture and Women Affairs, Mrs. Ahunna Imoni, called for a collective effort across public and private sectors to dismantle institutional, environmental, and social barriers that continue to impede PWDs from accessing quality education, healthcare, employment, and business opportunities.
“This initiative is part of the Commission’s broader commitment to skills acquisition, advocacy, and the creation of opportunities for underserved groups across the Niger Delta,” Imoni stated. “We have listened carefully and learnt a lot with keen observation. We might not be wholly there yet, but we are on the right track, taking crucial steps to ensure inclusion in all that we do.”
The Port Harcourt outreach featured resource persons from both academic and governmental spheres, sparking critical dialogues on social justice, human rights, and political inclusion for marginalized groups.
Delivering a presentation, Evelyn Member, a facilitator from the Ministry of Justice, commended the NDDC for taking concrete steps toward disability inclusion. However, she urged government agencies and policymaking bodies to expand their focus beyond periodic financial empowerment to policy-level representation.
“We need to go beyond empowerment programmes and economic inclusion,” Member asserted. “If we genuinely want inclusion, we must create opportunities for PWDs to be involved in decision-making processes that directly affect their welfare and future.”
Similarly, Ms. Ndifreke Andrew-Essien, a disability advocate and facilitator who is also a PWD, challenged participants to leverage their skills and advocate for themselves within mainstream societal frameworks.
“Insert yourself into conversations and movements,” Andrew-Essien encouraged the beneficiaries. “You have to make yourself, your abilities, and the pros of your disabilities known. It is with this that you can make notable change for yourself and inspire institutional reforms.”
The empowerment outreach highlights the NDDC’s ongoing drive to extend development interventions to hitherto underserved segments of the Niger Delta populace. By focusing on sustainable skills acquisition, advocacy, and self-advocacy training, the Commission continues to build local capacity that contributes directly to the broader economic stability of Rivers State and the entire Niger Delta region.
The event concluded with commitments from community leaders, civil society organizations, and participants to build long-term frameworks that sustain PWD inclusion across all sectors.