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.