The Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, Dr Samuel Ogbuku, says that achievements recorded by the Commission in the recent past should be ascribed to the benevolence of God.
Ogbuku spoke during the Annual Thanksgiving Service, organised by the NDDC Christian Fellowship at the Commission’s headquarters in Port Harcourt.
He enjoined NDDC staff to imbibe the culture of thanksgiving to attract more blessings from God, noting that the Almighty Father had been faithful and merciful to the Commission and thus deserved to be praised to pave the way for a more prosperous new year.
Ogbuku declared, “We must glorify the Lord for making us who we are. I am elated that we have sustained the annual thanksgiving service because we have many things for which we need to be thankful to God.
“The Lord has been so good to us this year. We have every reason to thank God. This year, we carried out activities and events that were the first of their kind.
“I am amazed at what God has done for us. God’s hand is in everything we do. This year, we hosted the first-ever Niger Delta Stakeholders Summit.
“I want to thank all NDDC staff for their physical and spiritual support. We wouldn’t have achieved all these without their prayers.”
Ogbuku assured that next year’s thanksgiving service would be held in the Commission’s chapel, not in an open tent.
He said: “Last year, I promised that our next Thanksgiving would be held in a proper edifice for the worship of God. The place will be specially designated and dedicated to Christian worship. This edifice is going to be for the good of the people of the Niger Delta.”
In his exhortation, the Provincial Pastor of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, Port Harcourt, Mr. Remi Odebode, enjoined the NDDC staff to be thankful to God in every situation and commended the members of the Commission’s Christian fellowship for their steadfastness in praising God.
He appreciated God’s blessing on the NDDC, noting, “If you want miracles, learn to honour and thank God. When you learn to praise God, he raises you and fights your battle.”
In his own remarks, the NDDC Executive Director Finance and Administration, Alabo Boma Iyaye, stated that by honouring God, the Commission was attracting more blessings, noting that the Almighty Father had been faithful and merciful to the NDDC and thus deserved to be praised and adored.
Earlier in his opening remarks, the Director of Administration and Human Resources, Mr. Patrick Ekade thanked God for the successes the NDDC had recorded over the years.
Also speaking, the NDDC fellowship Pastor, Mr. Udoma Sabbath, observed that God had answered the prayers of the staff by bringing a Board and a Chief Executive Officer “that is humane and eager to make a difference in the Niger Delta region.”
By Seledi Thompson-Wakama