By Elohor Foghola
WARRI/Nigeria: Executive Director, Projects, Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (DESOPADEC), Olorogun Dr. Ebenezer Okorodudu, has reiterated the pivotal role of women in driving sustainable development, describing them as indispensable partners in nation-building and grassroots transformation.
The DESOPADEC official made this known on April 7, 2026, when members of the National Council of Women Societies (NCWS), Ughelli South Chapter, visited him at the commission’s corporate headquarters in Warri to strengthen collaboration and seek greater support for women-focused initiatives.
Receiving the delegation, the DESOPADEC project boss assured the women of his continued support, promising to integrate them into his programmes and initiatives, while appreciating them for the visit and their sustained encouragement.
“Women remain central to development at all levels. Their contributions to family, community and national growth cannot be overstated,” he said, reiterating his commitment to policies and programmes that will uplift women across oil-producing communities.
Earlier, leader of the delegation and President of NCWS, Ughelli South Chapter, Mrs. Elizabeth Ayovuere, congratulated Okorodudu on his appointment, describing it as well-deserved and a call to higher service.
She noted that his track record in community service and grassroots development had continued to set him apart as a dependable leader and worthy representative of the people.
The group also commended him for his consistent financial empowerment support to women within the council, noting that his interventions have significantly improved livelihoods and strengthened families in the area.
Presenting their demands, the NCWS appealed for the establishment of a skill acquisition centre in Ughelli South to provide training opportunities for women and girls, comparable to similar facilities at the national level in Abuja and at the state level in Asaba.
They further requested increased access to financial and material empowerment programmes, as well as equitable allocation of opportunities that would enhance women’s participation in socio-economic development.
The visit, stakeholders said, reflects growing collaboration between DESOPADEC and women groups in the Niger Delta, with expectations that such engagements will translate into tangible benefits for grassroots communities.
