The Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) has denied involvement in a widely reported skill acquisition programme allegedly held in Bayelsa and Rivers States, describing it as unauthorized and fraudulent.
In a statement issued on Monday by its Director of Corporate Affairs, Seledi Thompson-Wakama, the Commission clarified that it did not approve or endorse any such training organized by a religious group, Victorious Prayer Network, which had accused the NDDC of failing to pay over 2,000 trainees and provide them with starter packs.
“The NDDC approved no such training. The individuals behind these allegations were never engaged by the Commission,” the statement read.
The Commission emphasized that all its skill acquisition initiatives are transparently publicized and verifiable through official channels. It warned the public, particularly youths, to beware of impostors using the NDDC’s name to exploit unsuspecting citizens.
Thompson-Wakama reiterated the Commission’s commitment to transparent and impactful youth empowerment, noting that a legitimate technical skills programme was recently launched in Port Harcourt.
The NDDC urged anyone seeking information on its empowerment programmes to rely solely on its website — www.nddc.gov.ng — and verified social media platforms.