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

Okpebholo Assures Corps Members Of Improved Welfare

Published

2 days ago

January 28, 2026

The Tide

Edo State Governor, Monday Okpebholo, has assured corps members deployed to the state of improved welfare and a supportive service year.

Okpebholo gave the assurance at the swearing-in ceremony of the 2026 Batch ‘A’ Stream I corps members last Friday at the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) Permanent Orientation Camp in Okada.

The Governor also reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to youth empowerment, safety and entrepreneurship.

Represented by the Commissioner for Youth Affairs, Mrs. Charity Amayaenvbo, the Governor urged corps members to embrace innovation, community service and self-reliance rather than wait for white-collar jobs.

“Edo is committed to supporting youth empowerment, entrepreneurship and incentives that turn ideas into enterprises.

“Do not wait for jobs, create value. Wherever you are posted, serve your host community with humility, dedication and compassion.

“Have a positive footprint and let your service contribute to unity, productivity and progress,” he said.

Okpebholo assured the corps members that the state government was attentive to their welfare and had started addressing key concerns raised by the NYSC leadership.

“On behalf of the state government, I assure you of our support in terms of safety, an enabling environment and a rewarding service year.

“I listened carefully to the requests highlighted by the state coordinator, and I am glad to inform you that some of them have already been captured in the 2026 budget, which has been approved and signed into law,” he said.

The Governor noted that provisions for accommodation, meal subsidies, logistics and the construction of a multipurpose hall at the camp were included in the budget.

Earlier in her address, the Edo State Coordinator of the NYSC, Dr. Frances Ben-Ushie, described the ceremony as a reflection of the state government’s commitment to youth development and national integration.

Ben-Ushie said as of midnight on Thursday, a total of 1,235 prospective corps members, comprising 531 males and over 700 females, had been duly registered.

She congratulated the corps members on their enlistment into what she described as a “noble scheme,” urging them to embrace discipline, learning and active participation throughout the orientation course.

“The NYSC platform provides a unique avenue to meet people from diverse backgrounds, build lifelong friendships and create networks that can open doors to greater opportunities,” she said.

Ben-Ushie also highlighted the contributions of the NYSC to the state’s development, noting that the scheme had consistently provided skilled manpower, promoted labour mobility and strengthened national unity.

She cited initiatives such as the Health Initiative for Rural Dwellers and the Skills Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development programme as key interventions benefiting communities across the state.

The NYSC coordinator commended the state government for its support, including the provision of buses for corps members, and appealed for further intervention to address lingering operational challenges at the orientation camp.

She expressed confidence that resolving the issues would enhance the effectiveness of NYSC programmes in the state and thanked the Governor for prioritising the welfare, security and growth of corps members.

Niger Delta

PDP Declares Edo Airline’s Plan As Misplaced Priority

Published

2 days ago

January 28, 2026

The Tide

The Edo chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Friday condemned the state government’s reported plan to establish a state-owned airline.

The party, in a statement by its Edo State Publicity Secretary, Mr. Dan Osa-Ogbegie, described the proposal as a misplaced priority and evidence of poor, disconnected governance.

The Tide’s source reports that the State Governor, Monday Okpebholo, unveiled the airline plan during a meeting with Aviation Minister, Mr. Festus Keyamo, in Abuja.

Osa-Ogbegie said the proposal showed a government out of touch with the pressing challenges confronting Edo State residents.

“At a time of decaying infrastructure and stalled projects, establishing an airline is unrealistic and profoundly insensitive”, he said.

He argued that airlines were capital-intensive and technically demanding, noting that similar state-owned ventures in Nigeria had largely failed.

According to him, Benin has become a shadow of what a modern state capital should be.

He decried poor roads, collapsed urban planning, neglected drainage systems and weak municipal services across the state capital.

“This is a crying shame for a city of Benin’s history, heritage and enormous potential”, he said.

Osa-Ogbegie said several inherited projects had stalled or deteriorated, eroding investor confidence and undermining economic growth.

He accused the governor of pursuing “white elephant projects that offer optics without substance.”

He also cited ongoing flyover projects in parts of Benin as examples of poor prioritisation.

Against this background, he described the airline proposal as diversionary and lacking economic sense.

“When roads are barely motorable and services overstretched, proposing an airline betrays an absence of judgment,” he said.

He urged the government to abandon the plan and focus on people-centred priorities that would improve living conditions and spur growth.

“Edo does not need an airline to fly above its problems. It needs a government ready to confront them on the ground,” he said.

He warned that failure to refocus would deepen perceptions of an administration lacking direction, competence and a coherent development agenda.

Niger Delta

Students Protest Non-indigene Appointment As Rector in C’River

Published

2 days ago

January 28, 2026

The Tide

Students of Federal Polytechnic, Ugep, Cross River State, have protested to the Governor’s Office in Calabar over an alleged plan to appoint a non-indigene as Rector for the institution.

Carrying placards with various inscriptions, the students demanded respect for catchment area policy, local content, and the appointment of an indigene of the state as Rector of the institution.

Speaking on behalf of the students in Calabar, Stephen Etem said the protest sought to alert the Federal and Cross River State Governments to an alleged deviation from the established rectorial selection process.

Etem said a Governing Council, chaired by Sen. Florence Ita-Giwa, was constituted by the Federal Government to conduct the Rector selection exercise.

“The screening, which began last year, reportedly produced a Cross River State indigene as highest scorer and recommended candidate.

“Information available to us suggests that the alleged recommended candidate’s name might be substituted at the Federal Ministry of Education.

“We urge the Federal Government to uphold the council’s recommendation because altering the process could threaten peace in the institution,” he noted.

Responding at the Government House, Mr. Goddie Akpama, the Special Adviser on Intelligence to the State Governor, Bassey Otu, appealed for calm, saying the Governor was away but would be briefed.

Akpama advised the students to submit written petitions through appropriate channels, avoid inflammatory language, and engage authorities to ensure stability and uninterrupted academic activities.