By Abasi Ita
As part of deliberate efforts to promote job creation and self-reliance, the South South Development Commission (SSDC) and the National Directorate of Employment (NDE) have agreed to deepen their synergy on employment generation, skills acquisition, and sustainable economic growth across the region.
The renewed partnership followed a consultative meeting held on Wednesday in Abuja, where SSDC Managing Director, Ms Usoro Akpabio, led a delegation to the NDE headquarters to explore strategic areas of collaboration aimed at widening job opportunities.
During the session, Dr Nkereuwem Ebong, the SSDC Board Member representing Akwa Ibom State, called on the NDE to take urgent steps to reclaim a long-abandoned parcel of land allocated to the agency years ago in Essien Udim Local Government Area.
He stressed that putting the property to productive use would deliver meaningful economic benefits to both the state and the wider South South region.
Responding, NDE Director General, Silas Ali Agara, assured the delegation that the agency would reclaim the land and develop it in line with its mandate to drive employment creation and human capital development nationwide.
Ms Akpabio commended the NDE for its longstanding contributions to national job creation and capacity building.
She noted that the agency’s objectives align closely with the SSDC’s mission to promote inclusive growth, regional integration, and economic empowerment across the South South.
She added that the strengthened partnership would catalyse new programmes targeting youth empowerment, enterprise development, and skills acquisition.
The SSDC delegation expressed optimism that the enhanced collaboration would translate into concrete projects capable of reducing unemployment and building long-term economic resilience across the region.