The Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) has started disbursing N50,000 monthly stipends to 10,000 youths in the Niger Delta region as part of its Youths Internship Scheme.
The scheme, designed to equip young people with practical skills, will run for 12 months. Beneficiaries will be placed in various organizations to gain hands-on experience. The Director of Corporate Affairs at NDDC, Mrs. Seledi-Thompson-Wakama, confirmed this development while speaking to journalists in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, on Thursday.
Thompson-Wakama noted that the selection process for the programme had been completed, and successful candidates were now being placed in different industries. With this phase finalized, the commission has also begun paying the monthly stipends.
She revealed that the 10,000 beneficiaries were chosen through a transparent selection process from over 3.2 million applicants who had registered for the empowerment initiative.
“This unprecedented response highlights the immense potential and aspirations of our youths to improve themselves,” she said.
She further noted that the programme allowed the commission to gather essential data on the youths in the region. This includes their qualifications, skills, interests, and employment status, which will help in designing future programmes that address their needs.
The internship scheme was initially announced on July 31, 2024, during its inauguration, where Senate President Godswill Akpabio confirmed that the Federal Government had approved the N50,000 monthly stipend for trainees.
To strengthen its operations, the NDDC partnered with global consulting firm KPMG. Thompson-Wakama stated that KPMG has developed a Governance Advisory Report, which will help the commission shift from a transaction-based to a transformation-focused approach in its policies.
She also commended the patience and cooperation of the youths throughout the selection process and assured them that the programme aims to create long-term positive impacts in their lives.
