By Egbodo Queen
In a significant development for the youth of Bayelsa State, the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), in collaboration with the Bayelsa State Government and a private enterprise, is set to provide comprehensive aquaculture training.
This initiative aims to empower young individuals through skill acquisition and economic opportunities in the burgeoning aquaculture sector.
Victor Antai, the Executive Director of Projects at NDDC, announced this undertaking during a visit to the Bayelsa Aquaculture Village situated in Yenegwe, within the Yenagoa Local Government Area.
The aquaculture facility, a multi-million-naira project, currently operated by Aquaseas Company Limited, has emerged as a focal point for this collaborative effort.
Accompanied by Mrs. Winifred Madume, the Director of Agriculture and Fisheries at NDDC, along with Dr. Week Doodei, the Director of Procurement, and other Commission dignitaries, Antai expressed the Commission’s commitment to integrating the aquaculture village into its broader initiatives.
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This move aligns with the NDDC’s Holistic Opportunities, Projects, and Engagement (HOPE) program, where agriculture features prominently as a strategic component.
Antai emphasized, “We chose to visit this facility and determine how we can best integrate it into the NDDC Holistic Opportunities, Projects and Engagement program, which has agriculture as its primary component.”
The overarching aim of the Project HOPE program is to foster job creation and economic empowerment within communities, particularly targeting the youth demographic.
Antai highlighted the significant interest among the region’s youth in agriculture, thereby underlining the importance of involving them in such initiatives to ensure sustainable food security for the Niger Delta region.
The NDDC’s collaboration with the Bayelsa State Government and the private sector underscores a concerted effort to harness the potential of aquaculture as a catalyst for socio-economic development and youth empowerment in the region.
This partnership signifies a proactive approach towards addressing critical issues such as unemployment and food insecurity, ultimately contributing to the holistic growth and prosperity of Bayelsa State and the wider Niger Delta community.
