Meet Dr. Samuel Ogbuku, Managing Director of the NDDC

Dr. Samuel Ogbuku, the Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, is a passionate, focused, self-motivated political scientist and administrator knowledgeable in conflict resolution, youth leadership development, personnel management, entrepreneurship, and investment. With over twenty years of crisis management and capacity-building experience gained across diverse areas of human endeavor, he is well-placed to make a difference at the interventionist agency.

Born on August 19, 1975, he is an indigene of Ayakoro in Ogbia Local Government Area of Bayelsa State. Dr. Ogbuku started his primary education at Christ the King School, Oromineke, D/Line in Port Harcourt, in Rivers State, where he obtained his First School Leaving Certificate in 1987. He proceeded to Government Secondary School, Borokiri, Port Harcourt, where he received the West African School Certificate in 1993. While in Government Secondary School, his passion for transforming the Niger Delta began to form.

Hence the young Samuel Ogbuku proceeded to the University of Port Harcourt to study Political and Administrative Studies, graduating in 2000 with a Bachelor of Science. Subsequently, he earned a Post Graduate Diploma in Sociology, Industrial Relations, and Personnel Management in 2002, a Master of Science degree in Political and Administrative Studies (Development Studies) in 2013, and a Doctor of Philosophy in Political and Administrative Studies (Development Studies) in 2021.

Dr. Ogbuku has occupied several important leadership/development and management positions in a storied career with many remarkable accomplishments. These include serving as Personal Assistant to the Special Assistant to the Minister of State, Petroleum from 2005 to 2007, as 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 to 2019.

A product of the Niger Delta struggle, a student union activist and former public relations officer of the Ijaw Youths Council (IYC), Central Zone, Dr. Ogbuku, has always shown deep concern about the plight of the Niger Delta region. He has consistently demonstrated a zeal to positively impact the lives of his people, as shown when he served as Chief of Staff under the Chief Timipre Sylva administration in Bayelsa State between 2007 and 2012. As an entrepreneur, he takes investing in agriculture very seriously. There is growing hope that his tenure will bring the necessary investments to improve agriculture and aquaculture in the region in a way that positively impacts the people's traditional livelihoods.

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 his experience and deepened his understanding of what it takes to improve the living conditions of the people of the Niger Delta. With his excellent knowledge of the region, he believes that engaging youths in dialogue, valuable activities, and education will go a long way in addressing the challenge of youth restiveness.

Until he was appointed 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 Local Government Area, Bayelsa State. He continues to be a bridge builder across communities in the state and the region.

Dr. Ogbuku looks forward to utilizing his vast intellectual resources to strengthen the Commission so that every employee contributes to making a difference in the Niger Delta. He has also vowed to guide the Board to study the Niger Delta Regional Development Master Plan to avoid duplication of projects.