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 The Agency's flagship programmes include the State Governor's Special Overseas Scholarship Scheme through which it aims to enhance the state's human capital base. Over 1,000 young Rivers State men and women, including the physically challenged are currently studying in eight overseas countries for degrees in various fields, such as medicine, engineering, ICT and geosciences. Another critical area of mandate for RSSDA is the development of sustainable agro allied potentials of Rivers State. The Songhai Farm at Bunu Tai (under the Songhai Rivers Initiative) is being strategically developed to serve as the hub for all agricultural programmes in the state. It is an integrated world class farm and centre of excellence for enterprise training and transfer of skills to local farmers and research into agricultural techniques and varieties. The Workmanship and Technical Training Centre (WTTC) Bori, is our cutting edge training institute that will drive skills acquisition for our young men and women in some critical areas such as fabrication, pipe fitting, welding, carpentry, masonry, tiling, catering, etc. RSSDA runs other training programmes, including Overseas Skills Training schemes in Norway and Namibia in partnership with United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) RSSDA's drive for partnership leverages external expertise and funding from partnering organizations such as UNITAR, Shell Petroleum Development Company, Total E&P Company, Dutch Agricultural Development and Training Company (DADTCO), Rogaland Kurs Kompetensesenter (RKK), Rivers State University of Science and Technology, International Fertilizer Development Centre, Highbury College, UK, LR Group of Israel, Rivers State line ministries, etc. Through its small and medium scale enterprises, RSSDA provides opportunities for the self employment of our youths through skills acquisition, business training and access to capital to own their own small businesses. A unique partnership with The Promise Franchise in 5 LGAs, and is an example of SMEs providing enterprise skills for young Rivers men and women. In 2012, RSSDA won in the Gold category of the prestigious International Star Quality in Leadership Award given by the Business Initiative Directions, a Paris-based international organization which champions the global promotion of better business reputation and excellence. Our HistoryThe RSSDA is an institutionalised continuation of its predecessor, the Rivers State Sustainable Development Program (RSSDP), which was itself initiated as an Ad-hoc Implementation Committee to accelerate grassroots development issues in Rivers State. The Federal Government of Nigeria set up the Ad-hoc committee in January 2006 within the context of the Gulf of Guinea Peace and Sustainable Development effort, the governments of Britain and the United States of America and major oil multi-nationals operating in the country.During the ad-hoc working period, the then Attorney General of Rivers State, Odein Ajumogobia (SAN) – who later became the Minister of Foreign Affairs, chaired the RSSDP committee. Its membership was drawn from the other principal stakeholders comprising representatives of the oil companies, USAID, DFID, and the World Bank. RSSDA was later formally established as an autonomous entity under the office of the Executive Governor of Rivers State. RSSDA formally started operations in January 2008 under the leadership of its pioneer Executive Director, Mr Bolaji Ogunseye, who was RSSDP’s Technical Team Leader and was on secondment to RSSDA from SHELL Nigeria. In 2009, the Executive Governor, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Amaechi, appointed a supervisory chairman, Precious Omuku to oversee activities in the Agency and in February 2010, a new Executive Director, Noble Pepple a seasoned administrator on secondment from SHELL was appointed to run the RSSDA activities. '...So no one is left behind ' |
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