- Meets KOSOPADEC Board/Mgt.
- Lauds Oborevwori For Making State Inter-Agency Learning Hub
By Elohor Foghola
The Chairman of Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (DESOPADEC), Chief Barr. John Nani, today, described Delta State as a model for other oil-producing states.
Chief Nani disclosed this today, during a meeting with the Board and Management of KOSOPADEC at the corporate head office of DESOPADEC in Warri.
He commended the State Governor, Rt. Hon Sheriff Oborevwori, for positioning the State as a hub for inter-agency learning, adding that DESOPADEC board’s structure ensures fairness and inclusiveness.
On the operational structure of DESOPADEC, Nani disclosed that DESOPADEC was structured after the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).
“It is governed by a rotational leadership system, where both the Chairman and Managing Director/CEO rotate among the six ethnic nationalities of the mandate areas of Delta State.
The board is made up of four Executive Directors that oversee Finance & Administration, Projects, Social Services, and Planning, Research and Statistics and six ethnic nationality representatives representing their local governments.
On funding and revenue allocation, the Chairman said, allocation was determined by the quantum of oil production from the state’s 21 oil-producing local government areas. Itsekiri 29%, Urhobo 21%, Ijaws 27%, Isoko 14% Ndokwa 9% and Ika.
DESOPADEC’s activities are funded primarily from 50% of the 13% Derivation to the state government.
He added that the board was also subject to three oversight committees in the State House of Assembly, House Committee on DESOPADEC, Public Account committee and Appropriation committee which ensure that projects and operations are in line with state laws and policies.
On how projects are executed Chief Nani said that projects are not imposed on the people but operates a bottom-up approach, where local communities identify their needs through town hall meetings consultations with community leaders, youth, women groups, and other stakeholders.
The projects are selected based on community priority, feasibility, and impact, ensuring that development is people-driven rather than top-down.
The Managing Director/CEO of DESOPADEC, Chief Festus Ochonogor, while speaking during the meeting described the KOSOPADEC visit as a strong endorsement of the commission’s exemplary operational model.
He said DESOPADEC’s doors remain open for professional collaboration and encouraged the delegation to engage with various directorates for hands-on knowledge.
According to him, the commission’s experienced administrators are ready to share insights that can strengthen inter-agency practices beyond the visit.
He also urged DESOPADEC staff to continue upholding high standards, noting that the commission’s reputation for excellence is the reason other states now come to Delta for guidance. He stated that Ondo state oil producing areas development commission also came a few months ago to understudy DESOPADEC.
He thanked the visitors for choosing to “learn the art of doing well” and encouraged ongoing exchange of ideas to support mutual development.
Speaking earlier, the Chairman of KOSOPADEC Mr Suleiman Ndarayi Abdullahi commended DESOPADEC team for the opportunity to learn from them saying the team came with a genuine desire to learn. “We want to learn.
