NDDC Leadership Under Chiedu Ebie Redefining Public Service, Says Sir Tonna Okei Ekuku
ASABA/Nigeria: Sir Tonna Okei Ekuku, President of the South Carolina Organization of African Unity (OAU) and U.S.-based advocate, has commended the leadership of Mr. Chiedu Ebie, Chairman of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), for its transformative approach in the region.
According to Ekuku, Ebie’s tenure is redefining public leadership in the Niger Delta, emphasizing that his legal expertise, reformist mindset, and technocratic background are driving positive change.
Speaking during an online media briefing on Thursday, September 5, 2024, Okei highlighted several landmark achievements under Ebie’s leadership, including the completion of the 132KV transmission line and substation in Ode Erinje, Okitipupa, Ondo State, which ended a 15-year blackout in Ondo South Senatorial District.
He also cited the construction of the 25.7km Ogbia-Nembe road project in Bayelsa State, connecting 14 riverine communities through seven bridges and 53 culverts, and the ongoing Youth Internship Programme targeting 10,000 young people as examples of the NDDC’s renewed commitment to development.
“Mr. Chiedu Ebie, a lawyer and technocrat from a family of leaders, is at the forefront of a paradigm shift that is making the government more responsive to the people. His leadership is transforming the Niger Delta,” Okei said.
Okei, a native of Ekuku Agbor in Delta State, further praised Ebie’s ability to navigate the complex challenges facing the region, arguing that Ebie’s leadership style is grounded in deep knowledge of governance and the region’s developmental needs. He expressed confidence that Ebie’s board would avoid the internal conflicts that plagued previous administrations at the NDDC.
“There will be no misunderstanding, no strife, and no internal wars between the Managing Director and the Chairman. I believe this NDDC board will be the best. Barrister Chiedu Ebie comes from a noble home and has the capacity, ability, and vision to lead the Niger Delta to the next level,” Okei stated.
Okei, who is also a Grand Knight Emeritus of St. Columbus, stressed that Ebie’s prior roles as Delta State Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education and Secretary to the State Government have equipped him with the necessary insight to address the region’s most pressing issues. He described Ebie as a “5G thinker,” capable of seeing beyond immediate challenges and collaborating with global counterparts to deliver meaningful progress.
Recalling a conversation with Ebie shortly after his appointment, Okei shared Ebie’s four-step strategy for redefining the NDDC: conducting a critical assessment of the commission, building a case management plan, implementing strategic interventions, and regularly reviewing progress to ensure effectiveness. “This approach shows that he knows exactly what he is doing, and I am confident that Barr. Ebie will lead the NDDC to the next level,” Okei added.
He concluded by expressing hope that Ebie’s leadership at the NDDC would lead to even greater opportunities within the federal government, noting that Nigeria needs forward-thinking leaders like Ebie to move the country forward.
“He is a great thinker, a builder, and an enabler. I believe he is going to make us proud, not just in the Niger Delta, but across Nigeria,” Okei concluded.
