Dr. Samuel Ogbuku
Dr. Samuel
Ogbuku, the Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development
Commission, NDDC, comes fully equipped to make a difference at the
interventionist agency, whose core Mandate is to facilitate the sustainable
development of the Niger Delta region.
He boasts an impressive profile spanning over twenty years of experience
and expertise in crisis management and capacity building, built across diverse
fields of excellent human endeavour.
A native of
Ayakoro in Ogbia Local Government Area of Bayelsa State, Dr. Ogbuku started his
basic education at Christ the King School, Oromenike, D/Line in Port Harcourt,
in Rivers State, where he obtained his First School Leaving Certificate (FSLC)
in 1987. He proceeded to Government Secondary School, Borokiri, Port Harcourt,
obtaining the West African School Certificate (WASC) in 1993. As a student of
the popular Government Secondary School, his earliest passions of how to help
in transforming his beloved Niger Delta had begun to form.
Little wonder,
therefore, that the young Samuel Ogbuku proceeded to University of Port
Harcourt to study Political and Administrative Studies, graduating in 2000 with
a Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.). He also obtained a Post Graduate Diploma (PGD)
in Sociology, Industrial Relations and Personnel Management in 2002, a Master
of Science (M.Sc.) degree in Political and Administrative Studies, Development
Studies in 2013 and a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Political and
Administrative Studies, Development Studies in 2021.
In a storied
career on many remarkable accomplishments, Dr. Ogbuku has occupied several important leadership/development and
management position. These include serving as Personal Assistant to the Special
Assistant to the Minister of State, Petroleum from 2005 to 2007, Chief of
Staff, Government House, Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, from May 2007 to January 2012,
as well as the Managing Director/CEO of Fulfilled Farms Nigeria Limited, from
February 2012 – 2019.
A product of the Niger
Delta struggle, a student union activist and one-time Public Relations Officer
of Ijaw Youths Council (IYC), Central Zone, Dr. Ogbuku has always shown deep
concern about the plight of the Niger Delta region. Hence, the Ogbia-born strategist
and administrator is well-armed with deep knowledge and insight in conflict
resolution, youth leadership development, as well as personnel management in
both the private and public sectors of the Nigerian economy.
As a humanist, he has
continually demonstrated the zeal to positively affect the lives of his people,
evidenced when he served as Chief of Staff under the Chief Timipre Sylva
administration in Bayelsa State between 2007 and 2012. A passionately focused
and self-motivated entrepreneur, he takes investment in agriculture very
seriously. Already, there is growing hope that his tenure will bring important
divestments towards improving agriculture and aquaculture in the region, in
ways that will positively impact the traditional livelihoods of the people.
As the United Nations has
prescribed, the sure proof of sustainable development lies in the sustainable
livelihoods of the people. There is also hope that he will impact positively on
the environment. There is indeed a lot to hope for, for the Commission and for
the region.
An ally of the
Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Chief Timipre Sylva, working with
him in many capacities, Dr. Ogbuku often says that his long years of service
and tutelage have broadened the sphere of his experience and
deepened his understanding on what it takes to improve the living conditions of
the people of the Niger Delta. With his good and practical knowledge of
the region, he believes that engagement of youths in dialogue, useful
activities and education will go a long way in addressing the challenge of youth
restiveness.
Until his
appointment as Managing Director/CEO of the NDDC, he served as Senior Special
Assistant on Niger Delta Affairs to the Deputy President of the Senate, Obarisi Ovie Omo-Agege. He is also a Traditional Ruler (Deputy
Paramount Ruler) of Ayakoro Town, Ogbia LGA, Bayelsa State and continues to be
a bridge builder across communities in the state and the region.
Armed
with a Ph.D. in Political and Administrative Studies and a Master’s in
Development Studies, therefore, Dr. Ogbuku looks forward to utilizing his vast
intellectual resources to strengthen the Commission and execute its mandate in
ways that will be remarkably and fundamentally different. Just as the motto of
the Commission, “Making a Difference in the Niger Delta” declares.
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