NDDC disowns fake training allegedly held in Bayelsa and Rivers, urges Nigerian youths to verify all empowerment claims through official platforms
The Niger Delta Development Commission has clarified that it is not behind a recent fraudulent skills acquisition programme making the rounds in the South-South, as the NDDC disowns fake training falsely linked to it in Bayelsa and Rivers States.
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In a statement issued in Port Harcourt on Tuesday, the Commission said the purported programme—allegedly organised by a religious group known as Victorious Prayer Network—was neither approved nor supported by the NDDC.
The Director of Corporate Affairs, Seledi Thompson-Wakama, who signed the statement, said the scheme was a ploy to defraud unsuspecting youths under the pretext of empowerment.
“The attention of the Niger Delta Development Commission has been drawn to a report circulating in the media, claiming that the NDDC has failed to fulfil its promise to pay trainees for a purported skills acquisition programme,” the statement read.
The Commission described the training as unauthorised, cautioning that those behind it were never engaged by the NDDC to carry out any such activity.
“We wish to clarify that the NDDC approved no such training programme, and whatever training was organised under suspicious circumstances did not have the blessings and approval of the Commission,” it added.
Reiterating its commitment to transparency, the NDDC stressed that its skills development initiatives are always officially announced and open to verification.
“Our programmes are usually well-advertised and open to scrutiny. We recently launched a comprehensive technical skills acquisition programme to equip participants with practical, in-demand skills in Port Harcourt,” it noted.
The Commission warned young Nigerians to be vigilant and not fall for opportunists seeking to exploit their desire for economic empowerment.
“It is disturbing that some mischievous individuals are trying to take advantage of our youths who are genuinely eager to be gainfully engaged in legitimate activities,” it stated.
The NDDC disowns fake training attempts like the Bayelsa and Rivers incident, urging the public to confirm the authenticity of all empowerment offers using official NDDC communication channels.
“All inquiries about our youth empowerment programmes should be channelled through our official communication platforms. We also encourage beneficiaries of our programmes to verify facts on the NDDC’s official website and our social media handles,” the statement concluded.
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By declaring that the NDDC disowns fake training not organised under its authority, the Commission reaffirmed its commitment to fairness, credibility, and responsible youth engagement across the Niger Delta.
