Writing under the Politics and Power Column of April 20, 2025 edition of the Sun Newspaper, Chidiebere Onyemaizu, Assistant Politics/Copy Editor of the national daily said: “Chairman of the Governing Board of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Chiedu Ebie, appears to be deliberate in his efforts to emerge a political force to be reckoned with in Delta State politics. In fact, watchers of Delta politics believe that the NDDC boss is now the political leader of the Ika Federal constituency in Delta North Senatorial District where he hails from, given the cult-like following and intense popularity he enjoys there”. A crystallization of Chidiebere Onyemaizu’s above very apt characterisation of Ebie political ascendancy received a validation recently as exemplified by his relentless infrastructural strides in the federal Constituency, thus further giving Filip to the NDDC boss’ dominance of politics there.
In what could be likened to a demonstration of Ebie’s firm grip and constituency-wide influence and a new vista for the Ika Federal Constituency in Delta, Ebie who is the co-convener of a socio-political group, Delta Unity Group (DUG), last week, precisely on Tuesday May 6, 2025, announced the arrival of the first batch of transformers, numbering 10, out of the sixteen (16) attracted from the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, earmarked for the electrification of area.
Speaking at the offloading of the transformers, Mr. Emeka Ogbe, Personal Assistant to the Chairman, NDDC stated that construction and installation work are expected to commence this week, noting that the remaining transformers will be delivered as work advances. He also added that an additional 4 transformers bringing the total number to 20 are earmarked for installation in Ozoro, Isoko North LGA following a request made by the President General of Ozoro, Chief Berkley Asiafa. It is expected that the installation work will be completed within 6-8 weeks at the various locations within the Ika Federal Constituency after which the contractor will proceed to Ozoro for the installation. Emeka concluded.
Essentially, when one takes a broad look at Ebie’s career trajectory, his exhilarating performances in all the public offices he has held, his contributions to making Delta State a dream state for Deltans, and his current efforts to saturate the Niger Delta region with socio-economic, infrastructural, and human capital development as NDDC chairman, you won’t but agree that he belongs to a rare breed of humans.
Though he wears no airs and does not sound his own trumpet, anyone who encounters him will readily see in him a personality whose life is characterised by remarkable, legendary, and exemplary feats.
A thorough bred attorney and oil and gas exploration executive, before his appointment as NDDC Board Chairman in November 2023, Ebie had served as Delta State Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education and later, Secretary to the State Government.
His amiable and genial attributes, his traits of transparency and rock-solid integrity, as well as his goal-orientated nature, are arguably traceable to his grandfather, who was the first ordained reverend of the Anglican Church in the Ika nation, and whose two sons later became ordained reverend gentlemen themselves.
As Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education from 2015-2019, for instance, Ebie achieved unprecedented set goals, which included the massive renovation and rehabilitation of schools and the revamping of grassroots sports through the Zenith Bank Delta Principal’s and Headmaster’s Cup.
In 2019, he achieved a record-breaking and, of course, the transparent recruitment of 1,000 teachers, posted across secondary schools in the state. This merit-based and high-level transparency recruitment exercise made it possible for most of the beneficiaries to scale through without knowing anyone in the ministry or government.
In recognition of his rare attributes, then Governor Okowa made the following elegant statement about Ebie during his inauguration as SSG: “Mr Ebie is a fine gentleman who served meritoriously as Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education in the first tenure of his administration. His civility, analytical intelligence, communication skills, and diligence are essential qualities needed for the office of the SSG.
“In addition to these, modern statecraft, with all its complexities and challenges, requires team players, proactive leaders, and men with a large appetite for work. Mr Ebie meets these criteria, and I am convinced that he is well equipped to enrich the social, political, and economic narrative of our dear state”.
In just one year as NDDC Board Chairman, the Board under his leadership has turned not just the Commission round for the better but also the entire Niger Delta region through purposeful and result-orientated superintendence.
For me, the Ika nation in Delta North Senatorial District will probably forever be grateful to Chiedu Ebie, Chairman, Governing Board of Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) for the numerous infrastructural projects he has attracted there. Ebie has engraved his name in the hearts of Ika people with life-changing projects he has brought to the town.
Before the transformers, on Friday, February 28, 2025, the NDDC Board Chairman had earlier given impetus to his commitment to bettering lives of the people when he inspected some ongoing NDDC funded critical projects he attracted to Ika Federal Constituency for the benefits of the people, assuring that the Commission will prioritize the people’s requests.
Some of these projects include: the ICT centre at the Faculty of Law, University of Delta (UNIDEL), Agbor, with modern computers and state of the art infotech equipment; the inspection of construction project at the first phase of the failed portion of Umunede/Umutu Road by Pan Ocean Flow station, at Owa-Alidinma, Ika North-East Local Government Area of Delta State, among others.
Arriving at the University of Delta, Mr Ebie and his entourage were received by the Institution’s Vice-Chancellor, Professor Stella Chinyere Chiemeke, alongside other principal staff of the University. While the University leadership expressed delight for the visit and NDDC’s contribution towards quality education delivery in a conducive environment, Professor Chiemeke specifically thanked Ebie for his good work, and lauded the projects through the NDDC. “I have acknowledged your huge intervention projects through the NDDC in my speech delivered on the just concluded 4th Founder’s Day of the institution. We will continue to thank you, and as Oliver Twist asks for more.
“For now, you have done enough for the Faculty of Law. I will appeal that you come to our aid in other areas such as providing the institution with buses. We are proud of you and your outstanding leadership quality at the NDDC. This is a testament to your track records”, the V.C. noted.
Mr. Ebie expressed joy over the completion of the installation of the ICT Centre as it will enhance learning. He further assured the institution’s leadership that all their requests on behalf of the institution would always be granted, appealing to the management of the Institution to at all time ensure a high standard of learning.
From there, Ebie and his entourage moved to inspect the first phase of construction of a failed portion of Umunede/Umutu Road by Pan Ocean Flow station, Owa-Alidinma. The NDDC Governing Board Chairman appealed to the contractor to ensure that quality job is done in ways that will properly check flooding ravaging the area. He told newsmen that the exercise will continue through the long stretch of the road down to Ute Erumu where another major part of the road has reportedly collapsed.
Recall that under NDDC’s “Light Up Niger Delta Programme’’ Mr. Ebie attracted thousands of solar streetlights to Ika Federal constituency thereby boosting economic and social activities which make life and living easier for the communities.
In April 2024, during the second Founders Day celebration and fundraising for Ika Language and Cultural Research Centre of the University of Delta, Ebie instituted a yearly award for the best graduating medical student at the University. According to him, the award by the family which would be reviewed after five years, is in honour of his father, the pioneer Chief Medical Director (CMD) of the University of Benin Teaching hospitals (UBTH), late Professor John Ebie.
