By: Felix Ikpotor
The Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP), has urged post-graduate students of Ogoni extraction to contribute to the ongoing remediation exercise in the area by embarking on community-based research aimed at finding solutions to the various challenges facing the communities.
Project Coordinator of HYPREP, Professor Nenibarini Zabbey, gave the charge on Thursday while giving out scholarship grants to 500 postgraduate Ogoni students.
Zabbey said the grants is part of the Project’s alternative livelihood programme. He added that the Project is investing in the scholars to build their manpower to shape the future of Ogoniland.
He reminded the scholarship beneficiaries that the Ogoni communities are looking up to them for ideas, contributions and leadership.
“As researchers in different fields, you must understand that you hold an important place in shaping the future of Ogoni. The Ogoni community look to you for ideas, leadership and solutions to the various challenges facing our people. You are expected to question old and unsustainable ways of doing things, develop new ideas, innovate, create opportunities, and help build a society where the next generation can live in peace and sustainable economic prosperity.
“It is in recognition of this responsibility that HYPREP is investing in your education and professional development. Recall that the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) recommended creating and promoting alternative livelihoods as part of the response to the environmental challenges in Ogoni.
“Therefore, this scholarship intervention is one way HYPREP is contributing to that objective by building human capacity, expanding opportunities, and preparing our people to participate across different sectors of the economy, ” he said.
Zabbey noted that the programme was conceived and is being implemented to reinforce the role of researchers and intellectuals as drivers of development. He added that through these efforts, HYPREP has become a major contributor to the region’s transformation and an important partner in shaping Ogoni communities’ future.
The project coordinator said HYPREP has continued to implement projects and carry out activities aimed at restoring the environment, improving livelihoods, and creating a foundation for sustainable development, in line with the recommendations of the UNEP Report and the directive contained in the HYPREP Establishment Gazette 2016.
He highlighted the projects to include soil and groundwater remediation, shoreline clean-up, mangrove restoration; the provision of potable water facilities; the construction of the 100-bed Ogoni Specialist Hospital and the 43-bed Cottage Hospital.
He also listed the strengthening of existing health facilities; the establishment of the Centre of Excellence for Environmental Restoration; the Ogoni Power Project; livelihood training and empowerment; postgraduate scholarships and other educational support; environmental monitoring and health-related research, including the ongoing 3-year human biomonitoring survey in collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO), International Agency for Research on Cancer as other interventions.
Zabbey emphasised that HYPREP cannot realise its vision alone, calling for support from the scholars and all stakeholders.
“Just as the success of the Ogoni clean-up exercise requires the commitment of all stakeholders and partners, Ogoni’s future depends on the contributions of its people, particularly postgraduate students, ” he added.
The Project Coordinator noted that the ceremony further demonstrates the commitment of President Bola Tinubu as set out in the Renewed Hope Agenda, under which the Ogoni cleanup, he said was elevated to a national priority.
While thanking President Tinubu for the elevation, he also appreciated the Minister of Environment and Chairman of the HYPREP Governing Council, Balarabe Abbas Lawal, for his fatherly guidance.
Giving an overview of HYPREP’s livelihood projects, Head of Livelihood Programmes, Mrs. Josephine Nzidee, said 2400 Ogoni youths are currently undergoing training in ten high-demand skills areas across different centres including persons with disabilities.
She said the beneficiaries of the scheme were selected through a transparent process from over 17,000 applicants, urging applicants to always lookout for empowerment opportunities when advertised by the Project.
Nzidee used the medium to intimate the Ogoni scholars of a planned Greening Ogoni Project aimed at restoring old crops species and trees in Ogoniland.
“This year, we are doing what we call Greening Ogoni Project. Wehave just concluded on the sensitization of that project with our environmental club members across the four local government areas. And going forward, we’ll be training them as trainer of trainers on tree planting.
” We have several trees, several crops that we used to see when we were young, butbecause of the environmental crisis that we have had in Ogoni land, those crops are no longer existing. So we have looked at that, we are carrying out a crop survey, and we are working with some consultants to see how we can bring back those crops and trees into Ogoni land. So we call it the Greening Ogoni Project, ” she stated.
Convener, Ogoni Postgraduate Forum, Surv. Bariatonlo Ken Nnaane, in his remarks commended HYPREP for the gesture and for keeping to their promise.
He appealed that the Project continues in deepening collaboration with Ogoni researchers.
He assured that the scholarship would be put into judicious use by the beneficiaries.
“As a forum, we make bold to say that Ogoni scholars are not neophytes in academic corridors. We are confident that this scholarship support program will be put into appropriate use, ” he stated.
The convener solicited for scholarship support and research collaboration from other agencies, national and international, and public-sector individuals for Ogoni scholars to lessen their research burdens.
Port Harcourt Spectator reports that the beneficiaries of the scholarship grants included 300 masters degree students and 200 Doctors of Philosophy students from across Ogoni communities.
