The Chairman of Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission, Chief Okrika, has assured the Commission’s determination to improve the living condition of the neglected people of the oil producing communities in the State whose environment has been adversely affected by the activities of oil exploration.

He made this statement in continuation of the free health care programme of the Commission and a United Kingdom based Ibelaw Health Care and Social Services visited the Cottage Hospital Ogulagha, Burutu Local Government Area of the State.

The Cottage Hospital is one of the five centres of the Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission free health care programme centres in the State.

The Chairman of the Commission, Chief Okrika expressed appreciation to the medical staff at the Hospital for the good work they have been doing in the community.

Chief Okrika assured the people that Governor Uduaghan’s administration through DESOPADEC will pursue vigorously its three point agenda, and appealed to indigenes of oil bearing communities to maintain peace at all time as foreign investors are willing to come to the area.

Coordinator of the Ibelaw Community Health and Social Services, Dr Nathan  Ibe called on the people to appreciate the efforts of DESOPADEC in their domain.

Indigenes of Ogulagha community disclosed that through the DESOPADEC free health care programme in their community, death rate has been drastically reduced.

Law maker charges Agharha Youths on skill acquisition

Youths in Agbarha Community Development Committee Area have been charged to take advantage of the boat maintenance and training centre at Ukpokiti to acquire skills that will enhance their means of livelihood.

The charge was giving by the member representing Warri South two in the State House of Assembly, Honourable Dennis Omovie during the commissioning of the Ultra modern boat maintain and training centre at Ukpokiti.
Honourable Omovie commended the Agbarha Community Development Committee for embarking on projects that will alleviate the suffering of the people.

He described the CDC as a potential instrument for the promotion of rapid socio-economic development of the area as communities have started enjoying the dividends of the State Government.
The chairman of the Agbarha Community Development Committee, Chief Israel Abido commended the State Governor

Dr Emmanuel Uduaghan for releasing funds to the CDC. Chief Abido said the project estimated at about twenty-three million naira would empower the youths who would be trained to acquire skills to enhance their means of livelihood.
Other projects commissioned include eighteen seater bus, a twelve seater boat, twelve motorcycles and two fibre boats.

The eight communities to benefits from the project include Otovwodo, Igbudu, Edjeba, Ogunu, Ekurede, Oteghele, Ukpokiti and Ijaw.

DTSG urges students to take advantage of its scholarship scheme

The chairman of the Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission DESOPADEC, Chief Wellington Okrika has called on eligible students of the oil producing communities to take advantage of the scholarship scheme by the commission.

Chief Okrika made this statement recently in Kwale when indigenes of the Ndokwa ethnic group were paid their money.

He said the commission decided to embark on the scholarship scheme in order to encourage indigenes of oil producing communities to fulfill their educational ambitions.

Represented by the Head of Department Education, Health and Social Services, Mr. Godwin Otuya, Chief Okrika said the scheme was inline with Governor Uduaghan's 3-point agenda of human capital development.

He called on the beneficiaries to be of good behaviour and provide the necessary documents to enable them benefit from the programme.

The DESOPADEC boss said the state government, through DESOPADEC, was seriously committed to upgrading educational facilities in the state.

At the premises of Bank PHB Kwale, the successful one hundred and fifty six beneficiaries of the scholarship scheme were paid their money.

Uduaghan promises youth empowerment through skill Acquisition

The State Governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan says his administration is committed to activities that would improve peace and security in the state and youths empowerment through marketable skills relevant to job creation.

Dr. Uduaghan stated this while declaring open a three-day `Stakeholders' consensus building workshop on Niger Delta job creation and conflict prevention initiative, at the Wellington Hotel, Effurun.

The consensus-building workshop is being organized by the State Government in collaboration with the United Nations Development Programme, UNDP.

Governor Uduaghan said the stakeholders consensus building workshop on youths empowerment is an important stage in the implementation of the Niger Delta job creation and conflict prevention initiative which UNDP is organizing.

The Governor, represented by the Commissioner for Special Duties, Hon Ocho Ocho stated that with the signing of a memorandum of understanding between the State Government and UNDP, the workshop will provide a solid platform upon which strategic planning can be carried out.

He stressed the need for Deltans especially youths to also take full advantage of various Human Capital Development Programme provided by the State Government.

The Governor urged the participants at the workshop to make themselves available throughout the period of the workshop and utilize the knowledge being acquired meaningfully.

The Commissioner, Youth Development, Reverend Shola Williams  described the workshop as unique and timely, adding that it would help in providing employment and reduce youth restiveness in the area.

The Commissioner for Economic Planning, Mr. Bernard Okumagba in a remark said Government is ready to address all issues concerning the people of the state and explained that such programmes are organized to eradicate poverty and joblessness in the State.

 Earlier, the United Nations Office for Project Service, UNOPS, Programmes Coordinator, Mr. Alidu Wirba reiterated that the program was focused mainly for youths to participate and play important role in the development of the nation.

Mr. Wirba said that the MOU was to reduce the level of poverty and upgrade the standard of living by empowerment programmes for youths and women.

Ughelli North receives Rural Health Scheme Programme

Many rural dwellers have continued to benefit from the Rural Health Scheme Programme as it moves to Ughelli North Local Government Area of the State.

The programme which kicked off at Uwheru and Aghara-Utor witnessed a large turn out of patients with various ailments.

At Uwheru, about one hundred and twenty patients had already been seen by doctors involved in the exercise, while in Agbara Utor, about ninety eight people had already been treated.

At the Central Hospital Ughelli, rural Health doctors were busy carrying out major operations on patients referred from the rural health scheme centre.
Meanwhile, the Odio-Ode of Uwheru kingdom, Oluo Adade, the first, commended the State government for bringing the Rural Health Scheme to his domain.

Adade I, said the programme would afford his people the opportunity to be treated by medical experts.