NDDC Pledges Continued Investment in Education and Digital Literacy Across Niger Delta

The Niger Delta Development Commission has restated its commitment to expanding educational opportunities for people in the Niger Delta region.

Speaking during the 2026 World Literacy Day event held in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, the Managing Director of NDDC, Dr. Samuel Ogbuku, said the Commission will sustain investment in school infrastructure, hostels, learning facilities and equipment for institutions across the region.

Dr. Ogbuku, who was represented by the Director of Education, Dr. Awele Chukwudifu, noted that empowering residents through education and literacy remains central to building self-reliant communities and preparing them for sustainable livelihoods.

He explained that literacy and education are critical tools for driving economic growth in the Niger Delta. He also assured that NDDC will continue to fund both local and foreign postgraduate scholarship programmes to support academic advancement for indigenes of the region.

According to him, education creates access to different opportunities, with digital literacy now playing a major role in shaping how people learn, work and engage.

Delivering a paper on ‘The Role of Literacy in National Development’, Dr. Adesina Osho from the Department of Business Administration, University of Lagos, said digital literacy has transformed how information is accessed and used. He called for increased community sensitization on the importance of literacy in driving development.

Dr. Osho further stressed the need for digital entrepreneurship, stating that digital skills provide new economic opportunities. He added that literacy supports economic growth, social engagement, and civic participation.

He urged universities to set up centres for continuing education to enable adults to pursue part-time studies. He also called on faith-based organizations, NGOs and community groups to support literacy through programmes and scholarships as part of their corporate social responsibility.

The lecturer emphasized that education starts from the home and encouraged parents to build a reading culture, nurture curiosity in children, provide access to books and share learning resources with others.

In another presentation, Professor Joseph Kinanee, Director of the Academic Planning Unit at Ignatius Ajuru University of Education, Rumuolumeni, listed different forms of literacy including traditional literacy, environmental literacy, numeracy, cultural literacy, critical literacy, functional literacy, media and information literacy, financial literacy, digital literacy and artificial intelligence literacy.

Speaking on the 2026 theme, ‘Literacy for People, the Planet and Prosperity’, Professor Kinanee said literacy efforts must be inclusive and reach everyone regardless of gender. He highlighted the importance of environmental literacy to human health and cited UNESCO data showing that about 739 million people globally lack basic literacy, while four out of ten children do not meet minimum reading proficiency.

He commended NDDC for its contributions to improving literacy in the Niger Delta and urged stakeholders to promote continuous learning through digital platforms.