How Ebie is transforming Ika Nation with life-changing infrastructural projects

By Jerome-Mario Utomi

Ika nation in Delta North Senatorial District will probably forever be grateful to the  Chairman, Governing Board of Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Barrister Chiedu Ebie, for the numerous infrastructural projects he has attracted there.

Barrister Ebie has indelibly engraved his name on the hearts of Ika people with life-changing projects he has brought to the town so hugely that it will be practically impossible for the people to forget him for years to come.

On Friday, February 28, 2025, the NDDC Board Chairman gave impetus to his commitment to bettering the lives of the people when he inspected some ongoing NDDC-funded critical projects he attracted to Ika Federal Constituency for the benefit of the people, assuring that the Commission will always prioritize the people’s requests to grant them.

Some of these projects include: the equipped ICT centre at the Faculty of Law, University of Delta (UNIDEL), Agbor, with modern computers and state-of-the-art infotech equipment, the inspection of the construction project at the first phase of the failed portion of Umunede/Umutu Road by Pan Ocean Flow station, at Owa-Alidinma., Ika North-East Local Government Area of Delta state, among others.

Arriving at the University of Delta (UNIDEL), Barrister Ebie and his entourage were received by the Institution’s Vice-Chancellor (VC), Professor Stella Chinyere Chiemeke, alongside other principal staff of the University.

While the University leadership expressed delight for the visit and NDDC’s contribution towards quality education delivery in a conducive environment and faculty, Professor Chiemeke specifically thanked Ebie for his good work and lauded his huge intervention projects through the NDDC.

“I have acknowledged your huge intervention projects through the NDDC in my speech delivered on the just concluded 4th Founder’s Day of the institution. We will continue to thank you, and as Oliver Twist asks for more’’.

“For now, you have done enough for the Faculty of Law. I will appeal that you come to our aid in other areas such as providing the institution with buses. We are very proud of you and your outstanding leadership quality at the NDDC. This is a testament to your track records”, the V.C. noted.

Responding, Mr. Ebie expressed joy over the completion of the installation of the ICT Centre Faculty of Law UNIDEL, Agbor, as it will enhance learning.

Ebie, a former Delta state Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education, and Former Secretary to the State Government (SSG), further assured the institution’s leadership that all their requests on behalf of the institution would always be granted, appealing to the management of the Institution to at all time ensure a high standard of learning.

From the University of Delta, Ebie and his entourage moved to inspect the first phase of construction of a failed portion of Umunede/Umutu Road by Pan Ocean Flow station, Owa-Alidinma.

Speaking at the construction site, the NDDC Governing Board Chairman appealed to the contractor to ensure that quality job is done in ways that will properly check flooding ravaging the area. He told newsmen that the exercise will continue through the long stretch of the road down to Ute Erumu where another major part of the road has reportedly collapsed.

It would be recalled that under NDDC’s ‘’Light Up Niger Delta Programme,’’ Mr. Ebie attracted thousands of solar street lights to the Ika Federal constituency, thereby boosting economic and social activities which make life and living easier and softer, with most communities illuminated.

In a similar vein, in April 2024, during the second Founders Day celebration and fundraising for the Ika Language and Cultural Research Centre of the University of Delta, Ebie instituted a yearly award for the best graduating medical student at the University of Delta (UNIDEL), Agbor, Delta State.

According to him, the award by the family which would be reviewed after five years is in honour of his father, the pioneer Chief Medical Director (CMD) of the University of Benin Teaching hospitals (UBTH), late Professor John Ebie.

Utomi is the Media Aide to the Chairman, Governing Board of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).