By Elohor Foghola
/Elizabeth Oduje
The Chairman of Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (DESOPADEC), Chief John Nani, has described the visit by participants of the Executive Intelligence Management Course EIMC 18 (Syndicate 4) of the National Institute for Security Studies (NISS) as a mark of recognition and partnership.
Chief Nani, who was represented by the Commission’s Executive Director, Project, Olorogun Dr Ebenezer Okorodudu, stated this today 30TH April 2025, while receiving the delegation at the Commission’s headquarters in Warri as part of the team’s Delta State study tour.
In his remarks Dr. Okorodudu congratulated the participants for the opportunity to be part of the prestigious programme and acknowledged NISS as a reputable national institution. He noted, “We are not ignorant of the existence and contributions of your Institute. DESOPADEC has consistently received participants from your various programmes, and we consider such visits a privilege and a validation of our relevance.”
Highlighting the Commission’s ongoing development strides, Okorodudu presented a document to the team, detailing completed and ongoing projects, as well as those ready for commissioning across oil-producing communities in the state. “The history, achievements, and project timelines of DESOPADEC are comprehensively captured in this material,” he said, assuring the team of prompt access to any requested information through the Commission’s robust project database.
He further praised the leadership of DESOPADEC, led by Chief John Nani and the Executive Managing Director, Chief Festus Ochonogor for its commitment to transparency and service delivery. “Our governor has selected a competent team. We have efficient directorates in Finance, Research, Social Services, and Projects, all contributing to the Commission’s success,” he added. He also acknowledged the roles played by ethnic nationality representatives in enhancing inclusive development across host communities.
Responding on behalf of the visiting team, the Deputy Commandant and Director of Studies at NISS, Mr. Hyginus Ngele, FSI, MSPSP, commended DESOPADEC for its warm reception and openness.
He disclosed that the current course has participants drawn from across Nigeria and five African countries—Chad, Ghana, Gambia, Somalia, and Rwanda—exploring the theme: “Non-State Actors in Security Management in Africa: Issues, Challenges, and Prospects for Peace and Development.”
Ngele noted that DESOPADEC’s field experience in engaging communities and stakeholders in the Niger Delta makes it a valuable partner in understanding the interaction with non-state actors. “We came to learn how you manage these engagements during project implementation. We hope that more documents and papers will be shared with us to enrich our study,” he said.
He expressed gratitude on behalf of the Institute and assured the Commission that future visits would be equally meaningful and mutually beneficial.
As a mark of appreciation, the NISS delegation presented a commemorative plaque to DESOPADEC in recognition of its contributions to community development and cooperation with national institutions.
Those present during the engagement included the Executive Director, Planning, Research and Statistics, Pastor Nicholas Efele; Special Assistant to the Managing Director, Mr. Omoze Godwin; as well as several Heads of Departments (HODs) of the Commission.
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