The Nigeria Delta Development Commission NDDC has called on youths across the Niger Delta region to take advantage of opportunities offered by the Port Harcourt Tech Expo to create wealth, secure employment, and drive innovation.
Speaking at the two-day technology conference and exhibition organised by TechNexus Limited and sponsored by the NDDC in Port Harcourt, Rivers State capital, the Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission, Dr. Samuel Ogbuku, encouraged young people to take ownership of their future by acquiring relevant digital skills and leveraging technology platforms to build sustainable careers.
He disclosed that the Tech Expo was designed to bring together innovators, entrepreneurs, investors, and industry leaders to explore emerging technologies and contribute to shaping the future of the Niger Delta region.
READ ALSO: NDDC Urges Foreign Scholarship Beneficiaries to Uphold Discipline
According to him, the NDDC’s support for initiatives such as the Port Harcourt Tech Expo demonstrates the Commission’s commitment to building a digitally empowered generation and advancing a technology-driven and inclusive development agenda.
“This event brings together technology enthusiasts, innovators, entrepreneurs, and investors from various sectors, fostering collaboration, knowledge-sharing, and the exploration of investment opportunities within the vibrant tech ecosystem of the Niger Delta,” Ogbuku stated.
The NDDC boss assured participants that the Commission was ready to partner with relevant organisations to create more platforms for youth training, empowerment, and capacity building in technology-related fields.
Speaking on the theme of the event, “Syntropy,” Ogbuku urged youths to be proactive in pursuing opportunities that could transform their lives.
“No one will plan your future for you. While the government has a responsibility to create an enabling environment, it is your responsibility to seize the opportunities it provides. This expo is one such opportunity,” the NDDC boss noted.
He explained that the Niger Delta possesses immense technological potential and is home to a growing community of skilled professionals, entrepreneurs, and startups driving innovation across sectors such as information technology, renewable energy, agriculture, healthcare, and infrastructure development.
Ogbuku further highlighted the NDDC’s role in promoting technological advancement through targeted initiatives aimed at empowering local talents, nurturing innovation, and creating an enabling environment for sustainable economic growth.
Delivering the keynote address, the Chairman of the Rivers State Internal Revenue Service, Israel Egbunefu, underscored the critical role of innovation in Nigeria’s economic transformation.
He urged young people to invest intellectually in their future and embrace technology as a pathway to prosperity, stressing the need for the country to shift its focus from crude oil dependency to technology adoption.
“Technology is the new oil,” Egbunefu declared, charging youths to remain focused and innovative in a rapidly evolving global economy.
Also speaking, the Managing Director of TechNexus Limited, Belema George, said the Tech Expo was conceived to promote technology-driven economic growth in Rivers State and the wider South-South region.
George explained that the 2026 edition of the Tech Expo adopted the theme “Syntropy” to reflect the power of constructive synergy and collaboration among innovators, investors, institutions, and policymakers in accelerating regional development.
He revealed that the partnership with the NDDC aligns with the Commission’s mandate to drive sustainable development across the Niger Delta through innovation, strategic investments, and human capital development.
The event attracted technology enthusiasts, entrepreneurs, startups, investors, policymakers, and other stakeholders committed to harnessing innovation as a catalyst for economic growth and sustainable development in the Niger Delta region.
