For very verifiable reasons, the Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, Dr Samuel Ogbuku, now wears the badge of a transformational leader in the development of the Niger Delta region.

He is leading the charge in transitioning the NDDC from transaction to transformation to ensure effective service delivery to the people of Nigeria’s oil-rich region.

For this and other management achievements, SUN Newspaper Limited honoured him with the Public Service Award for his exceptional leadership and transformative initiatives that have positively shaped the nine NDDC mandate states of Abia, Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Cross River, Delta, Edo, Imo, Ondo, and Rivers.

In a very short period, he has demonstrated that he is on a mission to transform the socio-economic landscape of Nigeria’s oil-rich region. Like a diamond, Ogbuku’s outstanding qualities could not go unrecognised.

The Sun Publishing Limited found him worthy, among 35 other Nigerians celebrated at the Sun Awards 2024, held at the Expo Convention Centre, Eko Hotels and Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos.

It was a night of celebration, pomp, and ceremony at the 22nd edition of the coveted awards. Over time, the award ceremony has become Africa’s most prominent media and entertainment event. The occasion celebrated outstanding Nigerians who have distinguished themselves remarkably in various fields of endeavour.

The National Chairman of the All Progressive Congress, APC, and chairman of the occasion, Dr Abdullahi Umar Ganduje praised The Sun Awards for consistently recognising deserving Nigerians who have excelled in their respective fields.

He commended the NDDC Managing Director for his efforts to transform the face of Niger Delta communities without waiting for applause.

Presenting the Public Service Award to Ogbuku, the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Bianca Ojukwu, observed that the event was designed to celebrate Nigeria’s finest.

She commended Ogbuku’s leadership qualities and urged him to do more for the region’s people, stating that his good will always speak for him.

An elated Ogbuku, said he was humbled by the award and remarked that it showed that Nigerians and Niger Delta people appreciated the development efforts of the NDDC. He stated: “The credit also goes to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu who is committed to ensuring the rapid development of the Niger Delta region.”

He said the NDDC Board and Management were grateful to the editors of the Sun newspapers for validating the contributions of the Commission in driving sustainable development in the Niger Delta.

The NDDC boss hailed The Sun Limited for sustaining good journalism and expressed happiness at being among the distinguished individuals who were found worthy of being honoured.

He said: “I am deeply honoured to be one of the recipients of The Sun Public Service Award 2024.I extend my heartfelt gratitude to the Board of Editors and the entire team at The Sun Publishing Limited for considering me worthy of this prestigious recognition. This selection and acknowledgement will encourage us to continue contributing to the development of our region and the nation.”

Ogbuku restated his commitment to sustaining the region’s development pace.

Before the award ceremony, the SUN Managing Director, Mr. Onouha Ukeh, visited the NDDC headquarters in Port Harcourt to present the award letter to Ogbuku. He said the newspaper organisation honoured Nigerians who distinguished themselves in diverse areas.

He noted that the NDDC, under the leadership of Ogbuku, initiated and launched several transformative projects that brought remarkable improvement across various communities in the Niger Delta region. 

He commended the NDDC for commissioning five impactful projects in Abia, Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Edo and Ondo states, covering roads, bridges and electricity projects in May 2024,

The projects included the 9km Obehie-Oke-Ikpe road in Ukwa West LGA, Abia State; the 25.7-kilometre Ogbia-Nembe Road in Bayelsa State; the 45km double-circuit 33KV feeder line from Omotosho Power Station to Okitipupa, Ondo State and the NDDC 6km Iko-Atabrikang-Akata-Opulom-Ikot Inwang-Okoroutip-Iwochang Road and 600m Ibeno Bridge in Ibeno LGA, Akwa Ibom State.

Ukeh applauded the NDDC for reviving the free healthcare programmes that provided 20,000 surgeries, attended 45,000 patients, and distributed essential medical supplies to rural communities.

He equally lauded Ogbuku for sustaining the NDDC Foreign Post-Graduate Scholarship Programme, which benefitted 2,700 students.

The SUN Editor in Chief commended Ogbuku for providing over 7,000 solar-powered street lights across the region and is extending the opportunity to other communities that have yet to be captured.

Ukeh noted that Ogbuku reorganised the NDDC administrative system to expedite service delivery and demonstrated the Commission’s commitment to due process and transparency by introducing measures to build confidence and trust among all partners and stakeholders.

The award ceremony recognised 36 Nigerians who were given various awards. The outstanding personalities included a female upstream oil operator, Mrs. Catherine Ifejika, and an Amazon of Nigeria’s real estate network marketing, Dr Jayne Onwumere, who bagged the Man of the Year award.

Governors, ministers, federal and state lawmakers, business moguls, members of the diplomatic corps, royal fathers, and celebrities attended the event.