Staff of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) in Akwa Ibom State and their families were treated to a festive end-of-year get-together and award ceremony on Friday.
The event is now a cherished annual tradition, under the leadership of Apostle Abasiandikan Nkono, Commissioner representing Akwa Ibom State in the NDDC Governing Board.
Hosted at the commission’s Uyo office, the celebration saw Apostle Nkono, assure employees of a markedly improved working environment and welfare in the coming year. He revealed that the construction of the commission’s permanent office site in the state is over 80% complete and is scheduled for commissioning in the first quarter of 2026.
He linked the staff’s improved morale directly to better service for Akwa Ibom people.
“When our staff are happy, motivated, and operating in a conducive environment, their productivity soars, and the beneficiaries are the communities we serve. The new office complex will be a catalyst for this enhanced service. In 2026, we are prioritizing your welfare as the engine of our projects.”
The Commissioner expressed profound gratitude to President Bola Tinubu and Senate President Godswill Akpabio for supporting the Commission’s 7th Board, and to the State Governor, Pastor Umo Eno, for his “unwavering partnership with the Commission.”
He then catalogued a series of key projects executed in Akwa Ibom in 2025, which he attributed to the collaborative efforts of a motivated team. These included widespread free medical outreach programmes, ongoing youth skills acquisition schemes, the ‘Operation Light Up the Niger Delta’ initiative, critical road constructions, an expanded scholarship programme for local and foreign students, and investments in sports development.
“From the scholarship awardees studying abroad to the communities now lit up at night and the youths learning trades, we are writing a story of tangible progress. This is the dividend of a focused board and a dedicated workforce.”
Director, Akwa Ibom State Office, Engr. Evong Evong, and the State NDDC Staff Union Chairman, Comrade Elijah Obio, in their separate remarks, applauded Apostle Nkono for instituting and sustaining the year-end party and productivity awards for three consecutive years.
They revealed that Akwa Ibom State stands alone among the nine NDDC member-states in hosting such a consistent, staff-and-family-focused celebration, crediting the State Representative’s leadership style.
“This event is more than a party; it is a statement that here in Akwa Ibom, our people are valued. It fosters a unique sense of family and commitment. We pray for continued wisdom and good health for our leader and all staff as we move into a promising new year.”
The event was a vibrant mix of activities, featuring keenly contested children’s competitions, energetic cultural dance displays, and special prayers offered for the commission, the state, and the nation’s prosperity. The highpoint was the presentation of awards to staff members recognized for exceptional productivity over the year.
