NIGER DELTA BEYOND OIL INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE (NDBOIC) 2026 SECURES SUPPORT FROM PORT HARCOURT CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, INDUSTRIES MINES AND AGRICULTURE (PHCCIMA)

The Niger Delta Beyond Oil International Conference (NDBOIC) 2026 project has secured the support of the Port Harcourt Chamber of Commerce Industries Mines and Agriculture (PHCCIMA) over the hosting of the conference at Federal University Otuoke, Bayelsa State.

This development took place during the official Courtesy Visit to the management of PHCCIMA by the Planning Committee of the maiden edition of the conference. The NDBOIC 2026 project planning committee delegation which was led by Prof. John Kalama, the Chairman of the Planning Committee and his team met with the President of PHCCIMA and her management at their office at Waterlines House, Port Harcourt Rivers State on Tuesday 20th January, 2026 to solicit for collaboration, partnership and support to actualize the successful hosting of the event as scheduled. The conference is currently tentatively scheduled to hold in March at the Post Graduate Auditorium, Federal University Otuoke and is anchored by the Center for Niger Delta Studies and Sustainability (CNDSS), a department of the University in collaboration with Quantum Habits Content and IzonFest Development Foundation Inc., who are the brains behind the conference.

Having received the blessings of the University Vice Chancellor Prof. Teddy C. Adias sometime in 2024, the planning committee has been working round the clock to actualize the objective of making the conference a reality.

At the event of the Courtesy Visit the Chairman of the Planning Committee Prof. John Kalama took time to submit the package in the proposed project to the satisfaction of the President and management of the PHCCIMA and expressed commitment to ensuring the desired goals are met and sustained for the sustainable development of the Niger Delta.

The Main theme of the conference is "REPOSITIONING THE NIGER DELTA RELEVANCE IN THE NIGERIAN AGENDA BEYOND OIL."

He stated that the conference seeks to among other things achieve the following:

1. To bring together stakeholders of the Niger Delta to deliberate on the issue of "A SUSTAINABLE NIGER DELTA BEYOND OIL."

2. Identify and prioritize projects that can be developed into sustainable industries for the independent economic development of the Niger Delta.

3. Initiate a fundraising campaign to support the research and development of identified and approved projects.

4. Forge national and international partnerships to leverage expertise, technology, and generate funding.

5. Create an enabling environment for long-term planning and implementation of a 30-50 years regional development plan for the Niger Delta.

6. Supervise and monitor the implementation of the development plan to ensure its success with regular monitoring and evaluation.

7. Identify Key Projects for Infrastructure Development for regional integration.

8. Promote the development of other industries for sustainable economic development

9. Come up with policy documents and recommendations that would be regarded and referred to as the Recommendations of the Otuoke Dialogue.

The President of PHCCIMA and her team agreed that the project is a laudable initiative by the University as it will create the background for the younger generation to be carried along in policy formulation in the Niger Delta and offer regular updates to reflect changing social and economic realities in the Niger Delta region.