Human capital Development....Prof Mike Ozekhome SAN Speaks on THE HIDDEN TREASURES — An Exposition of the Rich Resources and Opportunities of the Niger Delta by Deacon Chris Iyovwaye,

“THE HIDDEN TREASURES — An Exposition of the Rich Resources and Opportunities of the Niger Delta” authored by Deacon Chris Iyovwaye, CEO, Wellmann Group and Founder of the Chris Iyovwaye Foundation (DCI) is a magnum opus.

By Prof. Mike A. A. Ozekhome, SAN, CON, OFR, LL.D:Constitutional Lawyer, Author & Human Rights Advocate

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It is with profound admiration and a deep sense of conviction that I commend to you this illuminating and inspirational work. Deacon Chris Iyovwaye is an uncommon visionary industrialist, philanthropist, and nation‑builder.

This 202‑page masterpiece transcends the confines of a regional study; it is a national economic compendium; a strategic development blueprint; and a moral summons to all who desire to see the Niger Delta — and indeed Nigeria — rise to the heights of its God‑given potential. More than a book, this is an awakening call to both conscience and creativity.

The book speaks to governments, investors, professionals, students, scholars, community leaders, and every patriotic Nigerian who yearns to see the full promise of the Niger Delta realized. This is the story of a people who, though blessed with nature’s abundance, have for too long struggled beneath the weight of decades of environmental neglect and policy inconsistency. Deacon Iyovwaye, with profound lucidity and courage, offers a path forward through enterprise, technology, and faith in human potential.

•A Work of Vision and Substance

From the very foreword penned by His Excellency, Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, GCFR, former President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, the reader is immediately ushered into a discourse of rare depth and relevance. The tone is scholarly yet accessible; patriotic yet practical.

Deacon Iyovwaye speaks as one deeply rooted in the soil of the Niger Delta — yes, he is a true son of the region who built the Wellmann Group into a multi‑billion‑dollar engineering and marine services conglomerate. His lived experience gives the book an authentic heartbeat, fusing passion with experience and pragmatism.

His approach is analytical, historical, empirical and visionary. He dissects the socio‑economic anatomy of the Niger Delta with precision, while also unveiling its spiritual and cultural heartbeat. He does not just present data; he interprets destiny. Every paragraph bears the imprint of a man who has felt the heat in the kitchen and walked the talk. A man who has seen both the promise and the pain of a region that carries the weight of the nation’s prosperity; a nation where everyone wants to share the national cake without caring about how the national cake is backed.

In this work, Deacon Iyovwaye becomes not only an author but a bridge linking the boardroom to the grassroots; the entrepreneur to the policymaker; and the ordinary local investor to global opportunity.

•A Journey Through Fourteen Illuminating Chapters

The author structures the book into fourteen carefully woven chapters, each addressing a vital strand in the economic, social, and environmental tapestry of the Niger Delta:

1. The Niger Delta Region — An Overview

2. The Niger Delta People

3. Historical Development of Oil in Nigeria

4. Oil and Gas Resources in the Region

5. Security in the Niger Delta: Leveraging Technology to Attract Investment

6. Investment Opportunities in the Oil and Gas Sector.

7. Indigenous Players in the Oil and Gas Sector

8. The Emerging Potential

9. Analysis of the Nigerian Oil and Gas Sector

10. Opportunities in the Marginal Fields

11. Agricultural Potential in the Niger Delta

12. Harnessing the Blue Economy

13. Mineral Element Diversity in the Niger Delta

14. Critical Success in Business and Entrepreneurship

Each chapter blends research, statistics, cold hard facts, history, and lived insight. Together, they form a compelling argument for regional transformation through innovation, fairness, security, and indigenous capacity development.

It is simply remarkable how the author navigates seamlessly from oil to agriculture; from the blue economy to entrepreneurship, without losing his radar or reader. He treats the Niger Delta not as a single‑issue region but as a multi‑dimensional ecosystem of hidden resources, talent, and opportunities waiting to be harnessed. The language is crystal clear, the analysis sound, and the vision unmistakably forward‑looking with rare erudition.

•The Book’s Strength and Distinction

What distinguishes The Hidden Treasures is not only its thematic richness but its comprehensive and optimistic vision. Deacon Iyovwaye situates oil within a broader framework of agriculture, blue economy, mineral resources, and entrepreneurship. He challenges readers to look beyond oil and gas wells and see the “human wells” — the people of the Niger Delta — as the true treasure.

The author’s strength lies in his ability to merge intellectual clarity with lived practical experience. He writes truly as one who has built businesses, navigated the complexities of the Nigerian economy, and seen first‑hand the untapped potential of his people. The inclusion of real‑life case studies, pictorial illustrations, and the celebration of distinguished Niger Delta icons — including technocrats, traditional rulers, and community builders — adds depth, breadth and authenticity to his narrative.

Every page of the book pulsates with the rhythm of audacity and possibility. It is rich in analysis yet full of inspiration; factual yet profoundly human. The author reminds us that wealth is not merely what lies beneath the ground, but what lies within the human mind — vision, innovation, and perseverance.

•A Clarion Call to Action

As one privileged to be acknowledged among the notable sons of the Niger Delta in this book, I must affirm that the author’s vision resonates with my own lifelong advocacy — that true national development begins when we harness the full capacity of our local genius.

Deacon Iyovwaye’s narrative redefines the Niger Delta — not as a theatre of agitation, but as a cradle of innovation. He demonstrates, through data and faith, that prosperity is possible where vision meets with preparedness, integrity and enterprise. He makes a compelling case for peace through productivity and for inclusion through equitable indigenous participation. His deep insights on leveraging technology for security and investment attraction are particularly timely, as the world transitions into an era where data, digital tools, and clean energy will determine the next frontier of progress.

Indeed, this is a book that does not merely inform the mind; it stirs the soul; not merely agitates our intellect; it challenges our humanity. The rare collection calls governments to act, investors to believe, and the youth to dream beyond boundaries. It calls upon Nigerians everywhere to rethink and recalibrate their relationship with the Niger Delta — not merely as an extraction zone, but as a growth engine for national renewal, with her long suffering indigenes entitled to the good.

•Conclusion

In sum, The Hidden Treasures is a literary goldmine, an economic compass, and a patriotic testament. It invites all Nigerians — policy actors, investors, students, and citizens — to rediscover the possibilities embedded within the region that powers the nation.

It is a must‑read for policymakers seeking direction; for entrepreneurs searching for truth and inspiration; and for patriots yearning for transformation. The beauty of this work lies in its universality — though written from the perspective of the Niger Delta, its lessons apply to every nook and crany of Nigeria and Africa at large.

To read this book is to be enlightened. To reflect upon it is to be inspired. To act upon its message is to transform the Niger Delta and Nigeria at large.

I therefore wholeheartedly recommend this masterpiece to every true patriot and lover of progress, prosperity, and peace. May this book ignite the renaissance of the Niger Delta and become a reference point in Nigeria’s journey towards inclusive economic revival and national resurgimento.

* Prof Mike Ozekhome SAN CON OFR sent this piece from his Abuja Nigeria Base 

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