The Niger Delta Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Trade, Mines and Agriculture (NDCCITMA), in partnership with the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), has disbursed cheques worth ₦1.5 billion to 1,500 entrepreneurs across the Niger Delta region to strengthen local businesses and promote economic growth.
Speaking at the flag-off ceremony of the Investments Partnership Scheme held in Port Harcourt, the Chairman of NDCCITMA, Ambassador Idaere Gogo-Ogan, described the initiative as a major step toward empowering small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and reducing poverty in the region.
According to Gogo-Ogan, the ₦1.5 billion represents the first phase of the disbursement, targeted at supporting micro and small businesses in various sectors, including agriculture, manufacturing, trade, and services.
He noted that the scheme is designed to stimulate entrepreneurship, create jobs, and promote sustainable development by providing beneficiaries with both financial and technical support.
The NDCCITMA chairman commended the NDDC for its partnership and commitment to driving inclusive economic growth in the Niger Delta, adding that subsequent phases of the programme will extend the empowerment to more beneficiaries across the nine oil-producing states.
The initiative, he said, aligns with ongoing efforts to diversify the region’s economy and reduce its dependence on oil revenue through private sector-led development and innovation.
