The Founder and Executive Director of the Noble Delta Women for Peace and Development International, NDWPD, Amb. (Dr.) Caroline Usikpedo-Oliseowe, has reaffirmed the organization’s commitment to empowering women and advancing sustainable development across the Niger Delta region.

Dr. Usikpedo-Oliseowe made the declaration during her address at the grand reopening of the organization’s Asaba office, which also marked its 20th anniversary celebration. The event brought together distinguished guests, partners, and development stakeholders from within and outside the region.

Reflecting on the organization’s humble beginnings, she recounted how her personal experiences of human rights violations and domestic violence inspired her vision to create a platform that would champion women’s rights, peacebuilding, and empowerment. According to her, “Our story began from a place of pain, but through determination and God’s grace, we turned that pain into purpose.”

Founded in Lagos in 2005, the organization; originally known as the Niger Delta Women’s Movement for Peace and Hope, NDWPH; later evolved into the Niger Delta Women’s Movement for Peace and Development, NDWPD, in 2007, expanding its focus from hope to sustainable growth and empowerment for rural women.

Over the past two decades, NDWPD has implemented programs in seven thematic areas, including women’s rights and education, economic empowerment, governance and peacebuilding, health and reproductive rights, climate and environmental justice, anti-human trafficking, and care for orphans and vulnerable children.

Through partnerships with international and local agencies, NDWPD has executed numerous impactful projects, including skills training for women and girls, advocacy campaigns on gender equality, HIV/AIDS control, climate justice, and the fight against human trafficking. Notable initiatives include the 4GATES HIV/AIDS Project, ECEWS SPEED Project, and Girls HPV Vaccination Awareness Campaigns in Delta State, achieving remarkable success across local communities.

Dr. Usikpedo-Oliseowe noted that NDWPD’s voice has resonated far beyond the Niger Delta, with active participation in global policy spaces such as the United Nations High-Level Political Forum, Rio+20 Conference in Brazil, and Ministerial Roundtables of the UN Environment Assembly, among others. She emphasized that the organization has consistently represented the interests of rural women on issues of gender, peace, security, and climate action.

While expressing deep gratitude to local, national, regional, and international partners for their collaboration over the years, she stated that NDWPD remains steadfast in shaping “the Niger Delta we want, the Nigeria we want, the Africa we want, and the global future we all desire.”

She urged women across the region to remain resilient and committed to positive change, noting that the organization’s 20-year journey stands as a testament to perseverance, faith, and the power of collective action.

In a goodwill message that was earlier delivered by the Programs Director of NDWPD Int’l, Dr. Ejiroghene Esiekpe, he highlighted the organization’s far-reaching achievements in climate adaptation and environmental sustainability, HIV/AIDS control, cervical cancer and HPV awareness, gender-based violence prevention, and global feminist advocacy, noting that NDWPD’s influence has been felt both locally and internationally.

According to him, the reopening of the Asaba office represents “a triumphant homecoming after a victorious outing,” symbolizing renewed strength, growth, and the collective resilience of Team NDWPD. He commended the Executive Director’s unwavering commitment to excellence, women’s empowerment, and grassroots mobilization since founding the organization in 2005, stressing that “NDWPD has proven that when women rise, societies thrive.”

Dr. Esiekpe also celebrated all who have contributed to the organization’s success over the years. He prayed that the new phase would usher in greater partnerships, innovations, and global collaborations toward deeper community impact. “Cheers to 20 years of women and girl-child protection, human rights advocacy, health development, and environmental sustainability; and to many more ahead,” he declared.