NDDC embraces Shell, Tony Elumelu Foundation in its aggressive partnership drive

By Mbafan Ade –

The development of entrepreneurs in the Niger Delta has received a big boost as the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) the Tony Elumelu Foundation (TEF), have agreed to partner for the attainment of this objective.

Already, working out the details of the upcoming TEF-NDDC Entrepreneurship Programme was the focus of a meeting between the NDDC Public Private Partnership (PPP) Committee, led by Engr. Emmanuel Audu-Ohwavborua, and representatives of the TEF at the Commission’s Headquarters in Port Harcourt on Friday.

This came as the Managing Director/CEO of the NDDC, Dr. Samuel Ogbuku, hailed the partnership between the Commission and the Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria Limited (SPDC), describing the relationship as extremely cordial.

Dr. Ogbuku, who stated this when he led the NDDC Management on a courtesy visit to Shell in Port Harcourt, noted that the cordiality of the partnership was exemplified by their collaboration to construct the Ogbia-Nembe Road in Bayelsa State.

He explained that the NDDC was looking forward to transparent partnerships with Shell and other oil-producing companies on “how to deploy their contributions into legacy projects and programs that will benefit the people of the Niger Delta.”

The TEF’s Entrepreneurship Programme, launched in 2015, is Africa’s largest philanthropic initiative empowering African entrepreneurs.

The NDDC Public Private Partnership (PPP) Committee, led by Engr. Emmanuel Audu-Ohwavborua, also on Friday, held an interactive session with the Power Construction Corporation of China (POWERCHINA) at the Commission’s Headquarters in Port Harcourt. 

This is part of ongoing efforts by the NDDC Board of Directors and Management to find alternative funding sources. 

POWERCHINA is an integrated construction group that provides investment and financing, planning design, engineering construction, equipment manufacturing, and operation management for clean and low-carbon energy, water resources, environmental construction, and infrastructure.

POWERCHINA has established its presence in diversified market segments by focusing on hydroelectricity and electric power. POWERCHINA’s earliest presence in Nigeria can be traced back to 2002.

Since then, more and more PowerChina subsidiaries have expanded their business to Nigeria. Over the past two decades, POWERCHINA has demonstrated its strong capability in infrastructure construction, especially in the power sector.

In the power sector, POWERCHINA has completed the Olorunsogo Gas-fired Power Plant Phase I and II, the Rehabilitation of the Kainji Hydroelectric Power Plant (1G5, 1G6 & 1G12), the Rehabilitation of Dadin Kowa Hydropower Plant as the sole EPC contractor; played the role as the critical subcontractor in Omotosho Gas-fired Power Plant; and will soon deliver the 700 MW Zungeru Hydropower Plant as the main contractor; and recently, they started the Rehabilitation and Extension of the Kainji Hydropower Plant (1G3, 1G4 & 1G9) to give the plant an additional capacity of 305 MW.

In other sectors, POWERCHINA completed 10.5-km road construction in the Ogun Free Trade Zone. The Transforming Irrigation Management in Nigeria (TRIMMING) project is renovating and expanding dams in Kano State and Sokoto State.

During the talks with the NDDC, the Managing Director of the SPDC and Country Chair, Shell Companies in Nigeria (SCiN), Mr. Osagie Okunbor, acknowledged that Shell and the NDC had had a long history of collaboration.

“We are symbiotically related to the NDDC. We will do our very best despite the harsh financial situation. We look forward to a mutually beneficial relationship with this Board and management,” Okunbor said.

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