By Jerome-Mario Utomi

Some persons are born as a special breed of humans. Chiedu Ebie, Chairman of the Governing Board of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) is one of such persons.

In fact, at 55, Ebie encapsulates Menachem Mendel Schneerson’s postulation about people born as a special breed. Schneerson: “Because time itself is like a spiral, something special happens on your birthday each year: The same energy that God invested in you at birth is present once again.”.

When you look at Ebie’s career trajectory, his exhilarating performances in all the public offices he has held, his contributions to making Delta State a dream state for Deltans, and his current efforts to saturate the Niger Delta region with socio-economic, infrastructural, and human capital development as NDDC chairman, you won’t but agree that he indeed, as submitted by Menachem Mendel Schneerson, belongs to a rare breed of humans. Born January 2, 1970, Ebie’s birthday is a huge celebration of excellence.

Though he wears no airs and does not sound his own trumpet, anyone who encounters him will readily see in him a personality whose life is characterised by remarkable, legendary, and exemplary feats.

A thoroughbred attorney and oil and gas exploration executive, before his appointment as NDDC Board Chairman in November 2023, Ebie had served as Delta State Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education and later, Secretary to the State Government.

Private and public sector stakeholders share common, refreshing commentaries about Ebie’s eventful and impactful 55 years on earth and his salutary accomplishments.

The common denominator, however, is that this “birthday boy,” this illustrious son of the Ika ancient kingdom who had contributed immensely to the realisation of the Smart and Stronger Delta agenda of the Governor Ifeanyi Okowa administration”, is worthy of commendation, emulation, and celebration as he turns 55 today.

Late American President John Quincy Adams was probably talking about Ebie when he argued that “If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more, and become more, you are a leader.” Indeed, in Ebie, you see a man whose knack for hard work, honesty, integrity, purposefulness, and excellence has been a source of inspiration to his subordinates and admirers.

His amiable and genial attributes, his traits of transparency and rock-solid integrity, as well as his goal-orientated nature, are arguably traceable to his grandfather, who was the first ordained reverend of the Anglican Church in the Ika nation, and whose two sons later became ordained reverend gentlemen themselves.

As Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education from 2015-2019, for instance, Ebie achieved unprecedented set goals, which included the massive renovation and rehabilitation of schools and the revamping of grassroots sports through the Zenith Bank Delta Principal’s and Headmaster’s Cup.

In 2019, he achieved a record-breaking and, of course, the transparent recruitment of 1,000 teachers, posted across secondary schools in the state. This merit-based and high-level transparency recruitment exercise made it possible for most of the beneficiaries to scale through without knowing anyone in the ministry or government.

In recognition of his rare attributes, then Governor Okowa made the following elegant statement about Ebie during his inauguration as SSG: “Mr Ebie is a fine gentleman who served meritoriously as Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education in the first tenure of his administration. His civility, analytical intelligence, communication skills, and diligence are essential qualities needed for the office of the SSG.

In addition to these, modern statecraft, with all its complexities and challenges, requires team players, proactive leaders, and men with a large appetite for work. Mr Ebie meets these criteria, and I am convinced that he is well equipped to enrich the social, political, and economic narrative of our dear state.”

In just one year as NDDC Board Chairman, the Board under his leadership has turned not just the Commission round for the better but also the entire Niger Delta region through purposeful and result-orientated superintendence.

Today is not just Ebie’s birthday but also the dawn of a new year for him, the beginning of another cycle of 365 days of rendering quality, humane, deliberate, intentional, and transformational service to Nigeria and the people of the Niger Delta in particular.

Happy birthday, sir!

Utomi, a media specialist, writes from Lagos, Nigeria. He can be reached via [email protected]/08032725374.

By Anaekwe Everistus Nnamdi

Kaolin, a versatile and valuable industrial mineral, holds significant promise for Nigeria’s mining and industrial sectors. Its wide-ranging applications, especially in the pharmaceutical industry, present an untapped potential for mining and processing into pharmaceutical-grade material for both local use and export.

Kaolin, or china clay, is a soft, white clay primarily composed of kaolinite. It finds applications in ceramics, paper, paint, rubber, and plastics. In the pharmaceutical industry, it serves as an excipient, binder, and coating agent for tablets, underscoring its economic significance. Pharmaceutical-grade kaolin is a premium product, requiring high purity levels and strict processing standards.

Nigeria boasts substantial kaolin deposits in states like Adamawa, Katsina, Ogun, Ondo, and Ekiti, with reserves exceeding two billion metric tons. Despite this abundance, the potential of kaolin mining and processing remains underutilized due to limited investment, inadequate infrastructure, and technological challenges.

The local demand for kaolin, particularly in pharmaceuticals and cosmetics, is on the rise. As Nigeria’s pharmaceutical sector grows, fueled by an increasing population and higher prevalence of chronic diseases, the need for high-quality pharmaceutical excipients like kaolin is set to surge. Beyond pharmaceuticals, kaolin is essential in toothpaste, cosmetics, and agrochemicals, further diversifying its domestic applications.

Globally, the kaolin market was valued at USD 3.09 billion in 2022 and is projected to reach USD 4.90 billion by 2030, growing at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 4.59% from 2023 to 2030. The rising demand across industries such as paper, ceramics, paints, and rubber drives this growth. Construction activities worldwide also contribute to the expanding market, aligning with the growing global population’s needs.

Pharmaceutical-grade kaolin represents a niche yet high-value segment of this market. Major importers include the United States, Germany, Japan, and South Korea, where stringent regulations require high-quality raw materials.

Nigeria’s strategic location and trade agreements with African and international partners position it as a potential supplier. Investments in mining and processing infrastructure could enable Nigeria to compete globally, leveraging its vast reserves and cost advantages.

Trends in the Kaolin Market

Increased Demand for High-Purity Kaolin: The pharmaceutical and cosmetic industries are driving the need for ultra-fine, high-purity kaolin that meets regulatory standards.

Sustainability in Mining: Emphasis is growing on sustainable practices, minimizing environmental impact, and benefiting local communities.

Technological Advancements: Innovations in processing technology improve beneficiation efficiency, meeting stringent global standards.

Local Value Addition: Many governments encourage local processing industries to reduce reliance on raw material exports.

Processing pharmaceutical-grade kaolin involves a series of meticulously controlled stages. The first step is mining and beneficiation, which includes extracting kaolin and removing impurities through processes such as washing, sieving, and magnetic separation.

Next, calcination is employed to heat the kaolin, removing moisture and enhancing its chemical and physical properties.

This is followed by grinding and micronizing, a critical phase where the kaolin is refined to achieve the ultra-fine particle size required for pharmaceutical applications.

Finally, quality testing is conducted to ensure the product meets stringent international pharmacopoeia standards, guaranteeing its suitability for high-value uses.

Modern processing plants in Nigeria could significantly boost the local value chain, create jobs, and reduce dependency on imported pharmaceutical-grade kaolin.

The Nigerian mining sector operates under the Minerals and Mining Act of 2007, which provides the legal framework for activities. Key provisions include:

Licensing: Companies require licenses, such as Exploration Licenses, Mining Leases, and Small-Scale Mining Leases.

Environmental Compliance: Operations must adhere to environmental regulations, including conducting Environmental Impact Assessments (EIAs).

Community Engagement: Companies must engage host communities and deliver socio-economic benefits.

Additionally, the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) oversees pharmaceutical product quality, including raw materials like kaolin. Compliance with NAFDAC standards is crucial for local producers targeting the pharmaceutical market.

Kaolin mining and processing offer Nigeria an opportunity to diversify its economy, reduce import dependency, and boost foreign exchange earnings. Investments in infrastructure, technology, and regulatory compliance can unlock the full potential of Nigeria’s kaolin reserves.

As global demand for high-purity kaolin rises, particularly in the pharmaceutical sector, Nigeria’s strategic position and abundant resources make it a key player in the industry’s future.

Anaekwe Everistus Nnamdi is the founder and Market Research Analyst of Foraminifera Market Research Limited, Lagos and can be reached via [email protected] or +234 8033782777

By Jerome-Mario Utomi

The Chairman of the board of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Mr Chiedu Ebie has said the commission recorded impressive achievements in 2024.

Speaking on Monday on a radio programme where he featured as a guest, Mr Ebie assured of the agency’s continued socio-economic and infrastructural strides in the Niger Delta.

The chairman, a former Secretary to Delta State Government, listed peaceful coexistence among members of the board and management, infrastructural provision, stakeholders’ engagement, and human capital development, among others as the commission’s key achievements in 2024.

“For us, our key achievement, first and foremost, which is what many people will take for granted, is peace and stability within the board and the commission.

“In the past, you know, NDDC was always in the news for the wrong reasons. But I’m proud and confident to say that in the one year that we’ve been there, it has been very peaceful, coexisting within the board and then, for everybody that has to do with the commission.

“Another achievement also is that we have created a very harmonious working relationship,” Mr Ebie said.

On seamless interface with critical Niger Delta stakeholders, Mr Ebie said pragmatic leadership made it easier, noting, “Have we been able to achieve that? We sat amongst ourselves and said ‘you must engage the stakeholders, periodically.

“So, about six months into our tenure, we conveyed a Niger Delta Stakeholder Summit which was held in two days in Port Harcourt. In July, we had critical stakeholder engagement ranging from the private sector to top government officials, to ethnic nationalities, and so on. We keep those engagements going.

“We’ve also engaged with the youth groups as well. I think we’ve had two such engagements with the youth group. So, in terms of stakeholder management, the day-to-day administration of the commission is led by the Managing Director/Chief Executive, Sam Ogbuku who I will say, has done an excellent job.

“We on the board, as a non-executive chairman, we superintend over the board and by extension, we supervise over the activities of management.

“So, we’ve worked to create that harmonious working relationship and at the same time, engage the stakeholders. So, that’s in terms of management and administration,” the NDDC chairman stated.

On infrastructural and human capital development, he said, “Other achievements would have to do with infrastructural development and capacity building in various areas, which I can highlight as we go along. But I will pause for now.

“There are a whole load of programs by the commission, which as we all know, is an interventionist agency. Sometimes, people tend to mistake NDDC for a tier of government. They make it seem as if NDDC is a tier of government but it’s an interventionist agency. In doing that, one of the things we will seek to achieve is to also make sure that we conduct empowerment.

“Now, the main one which we sat down and put together is Project Hope, which stands for holistic opportunities, programs and engagements. This is built around meticulously crafted programmes which include agriculture, entrepreneurship, internship, music and arts.

“Now, one of the things we realized is that over time, over the 24 years of its existence, NDDC has empowered many people.

“They’ve trained a lot of people. But you find that it is very difficult for you to sit down and determine the exact numbers. Or even the evaluation. What has been the impact of these empowerment programmes? So, it is a bit hazardous, and a bit unified. We sat down and said we need to rejig this thing.

“We need to create something that over time, as we go along, we will be able to measure the impact and know what each person has achieved and how it has impacted their lives. Has it taken them out of the poverty bracket and thrust them up the ladder? So, we came up with Project Hope which is in three phases.”

According to Mr Ebie, the first phase of the programme has to do with mapping and paper gathering which has so far seen about 3.2million youths registered on the platform. Phase Two, he disclosed is on the offing.

“We also have the youth internship scheme which we sort of made public towards the second or third quarter of last year where we tried to empower 10,000 youths across the nine NDDC states.

“Of course, based on their different skills, where they would earn a monthly allowance of N50,000. The world is advancing, there is technological advancement. Even your radio station here, as you can see, has benefitted from technological advancement.

“So, anything we’re doing, we have to base it along those lines. Everything is online. We register online. So, even for the youth internship scheme which would kick off in earnest, in January, we’ve now been able to gather all the data and categorise all the people into the different vocations or skill settings. These are two major empowerment programmes,” Mr Ebie added.

Speaking on NDDC’s intervention in the education sector in the Niger Delta, he informed that “educationally, we recently launched the U-lesson tabs, which is also another initiative of the commission. We had the launch to signify the partnership between the commission and the First Lady.”

“Yet again, this borders on technology, where we will be distributing tabs to schools across the region. And we’re very particular this time around. We don’t want to give out these things to students, parents or teachers who would toss them in one corner or use them for other things.

“Now, these are tabs that have a curriculum loaded onto them. And they aid learning and teaching as well. A pilot programme was run by the manufacturers. In over one year, they were able to measure the impact it has had on the children and the fact that it significantly improved their cognitive skills and their learning abilities.

“So, the outcomes were pretty impressive, which is what we’re trying to replicate across the nine states. Of course, we have the foreign scholarship programme which is postgraduate, where we offer scholarships to 200 hundred indigenes of the region who go through a rigorous process in determining those that are becoming eligible.

“I remember, when the board just got inaugurated in November of last year, one of the very first complaints I received was from people who said we should halt the scholarship scheme and review it. But when we sat down, and we spoke with the directorate responsible for it, we reviewed the process. We found that it was indeed very detailed, very transparent and it was given to those that were deserving of it.

“Out of two hundred students, that went abroad for this postgraduate scholarship program, eleven of them graduated with a distinction. It goes to show that it’s a good thing. What it does is that apart from the fact that you’re getting a postgraduate degree from a good foreign university, It also puts you on a different pedestal,” he added.

Continuing, the NDDC boss pointed out, “The effect is that it improves you and enables you to get a good job. When you return, you come and contribute your quarter to the improvement of the region. And then, eventually, we’re improving the knowledge base and empowering our people with good quality education.”