Niger Delta

HYPREP Interfaces With Ogoni Youth

Published

7 years ago

October 15, 2018

In a bid to keep Ogoni youths abreast of its activities so far, the Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP) last Saturday organised a youth stakeholders forum in Port Harcourt, with a charge to the youths to key into the vast business, entrepreneurial and other opportunities that exist in the clean-up of oil impacted sites in Ogoniland in Rivers State.
To this end, the Atlantic Hall of Hotel Presidential, Port Harcourt, the venue of the forum was filled to capacity, as youth leaders, drawn from the four Ogoni – local government areas and beyond including other personalities and stakeholders stormed the event.
In his opening remarks, the Project Coordinator of HYPREP, Dr. Marvin Dekil, while eulogising Ogoni youths for their support and cooperation towards the clean-up exercise, said the project belonged to them and urged them to embrace the vast business opportunities that the remediation process had already thrown up and would still provide for them in the nearest future.
Dekil reiterated that the clean-up exercise was on course as the critical stakeholders in the project were committed in the full implementation of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) Report on Ogoniland.
According to him, HYPREP was totally committed to discharging its core mandate of remediating oil impacted sites in the area and restoring the livelihoods of the people.
While urging the youths to form cooperatives in order to access the vast business opportunities, Dekil hinted that plans were underway for the agency to train 400 women drawn from the four Ogoni – local government areas in conjunction with the United Nations Institute for Training and Reasearch (UNITAR).
It would be recalled that HYPREP had recently opened technical and financial bids for the remediation proper and it is currently awaiting approval from the Federal Government to deploy successful contractors to commence the clean-up of impacted sites.
The forum, with the theme, “Ogoniland and Clean-Up: Implementing the UNEP Report,” featured the presentation of researched materials by resource persons.
A HYPREP’s consultant, Engr. Charles Okoro, who spoke on ‘Ogoni Clean-Up and Available Business Opportunities,’ explored all the business potentials encapsulated in the UNEP Report, particularly in the areas of livelihoods, health, water and capacity building, among others.
This is even as a lecturer with the Rivers State University, Dr. Kaanakia Konya, in his paper on ‘A Better Alternative To Illegal Refining: Entrepreneurship/ Employability’ further highlighted the benefits inherent in the Ogoni clean-up project.
An activist, Mr. Celestine Akpobari gave an insight into the various struggles and agitations which culminated in the clean-up exercise and stressed the need for Ogoni people, particularly the youths to change their strategies and contribute positively to the development of Ogoniland.
The Commander of HYPREP’s security team, Lt. Col. O. O. Coker, in his presentation, urged the youths to eschew greed, self centredness and selfish interest and pursue goals that would add value to the collective wellbeing of the people, and by so doing improve and develop the society, stressing that peace and security were essential ingredients for the successful clean-up of Ogoniland.
Dignitaries at the forum include Rivers State Commissioner for Environment, Prof. Roseline Konya, President of the Movement for the Survival of Ogoni People (MOSOP), Mr. Legborsi Pygbara, President of KAGOTE, Dr. Peter Medee, a lecturer with the University of Port Harcourt, Prof. Ben Naanen, Paramount Ruler of Ogale Community, HRH Godwin Bebe Okpabi, among others.
Meanwhile, Ogoni youths have dissociated themselves from any act geared towards truncating the clean-up exercise, and passed a resounding vote of confidence on HYPREP.
The President of the National Youth Council of Ogoni People (NYCOP), Dr. Young Nkpah, who made the position of the youths known in a communiqué said the body was satisfied with the way and manner the Ogoni clean-up exercise was progressing, and condemned those hell bent on truncating the process.

Donatus Ebi

Niger Delta

Stakeholders In Delta Seek Stronger GBV Action, Women’s Leadership

Published

5 days ago

March 2, 2026

The Tide

Stakeholders in Delta State convened in Asaba for a leadership workshop organised by Otdel Health Heritage and Environmental Initiative (OHHEI), focusing on Gender-Based Violence (GBV) and women’s participation in decision-making processes.

OHHEI Project Director, Mr. Peter Olayinka, represented by a consultant, Juliet Obiajulu, urged participants to contribute meaningfully toward advancing women’s leadership and combating GBV across communities in the state.

He said the workshop aimed to strengthen participants’ capacity to influence policies, challenge harmful cultural norms, and reinforce initiatives designed to prevent and respond to GBV.

Olayinka said women often faced bias even when they occupied leadership positions, and stressed that gender diversity improved the quality of decision-making and promoted innovation and accountability in governance structures.

Speaking, the Chairperson of the Association Against Child Sexual and Gender-Based Violence, Mr Eris Jewo-Ibi, identified cultural norms, domestic responsibilities, political resistance, and grassroots barriers as constraints to women’s participation.

Delta State GBV Desk Officer, Mrs. Rosemary Okpuno, emphasised that effective decision-making required women’s perspectives, adding that inclusion remained critical to addressing persistent gender-based challenges.

Voke Angbagh of the Delta State Ministry of Justice outlined penalties for rape and called for the establishment of special courts to handle sexual offences cases.

Angbagh said frequent adjournments delayed justice for survivors, stressing that dedicated sexual offences courts would ensure timely trials and stronger protection for victims in Delta State.

The Tide’s source reports that facilitators identified cultural acceptance of violence, unequal power relations, discrimination, poverty, limited education, and low self-esteem as major drivers of GBV.

They emphasised that violence and exclusion resulted in social, physical and emotional harm, imposed economic costs, reinforced harmful stereotypes, and widened existing gender inequalities.

The source also reports that OHHEI, a local non-profit organisation, focuses on education, health, environment, and social justice, promoting sustainable development initiatives with gender equality at the centre of its interventions.

Niger Delta

C’River Suspends Taskforce Activities Over Drivers’ Protest

Published

5 days ago

March 2, 2026

The Tide

The Cross River State Government has suspended all taskforce activities connected to commercial transportation and ticketing across the state.

The State Governor, Bassey Otu, announced the suspension at an emergency stakeholders meeting on Friday in Calabar.

It would be recalled that commercial drivers in Calabar metropolis took to streets on Thursday to protest alleged multiple taxation and extortion by government agencies.

During the protest, the drivers alleged that taskforce groups claiming to represent the state government openly harassed and extorted them.

Represented at the meeting by Ekpenyong Akiba, his Special Adviser on General Duties, Otu said the suspension would subsist pending further review of the situation.

The Governor stated that the state government did not commission anyone to extort drivers in the name of task force.

He urged commercial drivers and other road users to remain law-abiding while government worked out a lasting solution.

On his part, the Chairman, Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria, Calabar Metropolis, Mr. Sunday Dennis, expressed optimism that the dialogue would yield positive results.

He said the meeting had provided an opportunity for the aggrieved commercial drivers to present their concerns directly to the state government.

Also speaking, the Chairman, Unified Drivers Association, Mr. Nta Henshaw, described the harassment on drivers as worrisome, and urged the state government to be decisive in resolving the matter.

Niger Delta

A’Ibom Assembly Urges More Private Investments In Agriculture

Published

5 days ago

March 2, 2026

The Tide

The Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly Committee on Nutrition and Food Security has called for more private sector investments in agriculture.

The Chairman of the Committee, Mr. Moses Essien, made the call when the committee visited Aviclaire Farms, a private establishment in Usung Idem, Uruk Usoh in Abak Local Government Area.

Essien, who represents Ibiono Ibom in the Assembly, commended the Management of the farm for partnering an NGO, ECEWS, to promote private investment in agriculture.

He commended the partners for adopting climate-smart agriculture initiatives in their operations, adding that such move would promote food security.

“Your interest in using transformative intervention to promote food security is a veritable way of complementing the efforts of the state government,” he said.

The lawmaker continued that adopting practical climate-smart agriculture model would help to generate employment, improve nutrition outcomes, and strengthen food sufficiency.

He further said he was impressed with the strides recorded by the partners, saying, “your investment has created jobs for no fewer than 2,000 youths.

”You are an example of an environment-friendly investor. I urge Akwa Ibom residents to embrace environment-friendly and technology-driven agriculture models,” he said.

Earlier, the Chief Executive Officer, ECEWS, Dr. Andy Eyo, who conducted the committee round the farm, said the collaboration was conceived to demonstrate the viability of climate-smart farming in ensuring food sufficiency.

Eyo said the farm, which commenced operations with four greenhouses, had expanded to 14 within two years, and currently supplying high-quality produce to major markets in Uyo and neighbouring communities.

He said ECEWS was exploring cooperative frameworks to enable rural farmers and women’s groups to adopt greenhouse technology for sustainable livelihoods.

In her remarks, the Chief Executive Officer of Aviclaire Farms, Mrs. Victoria Eyo, said the controlled-environment ensured precision cultivation and consistent yields.

She further said the farm served as a capacity-building centre for students, interns, and agri-business trainees.