The Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) has reaffirmed its commitment to enhancing educational institutions in the region by pledging to construct new hostel blocks and provide alternative power solutions for the University of Port Harcourt (UNIPORT). This announcement was made by NDDC Managing Director, Dr. Samuel Ogbuku, during a visit from UNIPORT’s Governing Council, led by Chairman Senator Mao Ohuabunwa, at the Commission’s headquarters in Port Harcourt.
Dr. Ogbuku highlighted the NDDC’s dedication to collaborating with UNIPORT for mutual development, stating, “We have undertaken several projects at the University of Port Harcourt, and we look forward to building more partnerships.”
The Commission plans to build new hostel accommodations and equip the university’s Senate building with a 300 KVA solar inverter system to reduce reliance on diesel. Additionally, Ogbuku announced that engineers would be sent to assess the university’s roads and hostels for potential rehabilitation.
As the NDDC marks its 25th anniversary, Dr. Ogbuku expressed a commitment to driving development in the Niger Delta and fulfilling President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
Senator Ohuabunwa praised the NDDC’s efforts and emphasized the pressing infrastructural challenges at UNIPORT, where the student population is approximately 50,000, but the hostel capacity is only 5,000. He requested additional support for stable electricity and transportation solutions, including gas turbines.
UNIPORT Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Owunari Georgewill, expressed gratitude for the NDDC’s interventions and invited the Commission to participate in the university’s upcoming 50th-anniversary celebrations.
