Nation
Group Charges Youths On CVR
Nigerian youths have been urged to participate actively in the ongoing Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC) Continuous Voters Registration (CVR) and other electoral processes in order to change the status quo.
The Executive Director of a Non-Govermental Organisation, The Leadership and Advocacy (LEAD) Network, Mr Chukwuma Okenwa, made the call on Wednesday while speaking to newsmen in Enugu on why youths must participate actively in politics to achieve the desired change.
Okenwa noted that the impediment to youths participating in politics remained the notion that “vote does not count in the country”, adding “with this notion, present political dynamism disfavouring youths will never change.
“For we, youths, to anticipate peaceful change, it will be by engaging political leaders, recalling those not performing or out-rightly ensuring that political misfits do not get into political offices by our ballot votes”.
The activist noted that the present crop of leaders, who are aged (above 60), should be retired for the political space to breathe fresh air.
“The country needed new and progressive ideas based on modern knowledge driven by technology for the country to move forward and fulfill its destiny among the comity of nations,’’ he reasoned.
He said that the ongoing CVR and the forthcoming 2023 general election provided an opportunity for youths to change the fortune of the country to benefit their generation.
“The youths remained the silent majority. It will surprise you that in a nation of anticipated 100 million voters, the Presidential election is decided by only 30 million votes.
“It means that 70 million voters not participating are majorly youths.
“If the 70 million voters, who are the silent majority, stand up to vote and be voted for; there will be a great upturn in the democratic process and its outcome henceforth,” he added.
By: Canice Amadi, Enugu
In a statement signed by the Project Coordinator, Prof Nenibarini Zabbey, to commemorate the anniversary, HYPREP described the anniversary as a significant milestone in Nigeria’s environmental restoration efforts, noting that the project has made remarkable progress in implementing the recommendations of the landmark UNEP report released on August 4, 2011.
The UNEP report had revealed extensive oil pollution across Ogoniland, severe environmental degradation, and serious public health risks resulting from decades of petroleum operations. It also recommended an initial $1 billion fund to commence the cleanup of the affected communities.
According to HYPREP, the Federal Government formally launched the Ogoni clean-up in 2016, while the Project Coordination Office was established in 2017 to drive the implementation of UNEP’s recommendations.
Zabbey said the current administration has continued to prioritise the project under the Renewed Hope Agenda.
Providing an update on the cleanup, the Project Coordinator disclosed that 30 of the 65 contaminated sites identified by UNEP have been fully remediated, while work is ongoing at several medium- and high-risk locations. It also stated that more than 1.5 million mangrove seedlings have been planted as part of what it described as the world’s largest restoration of oil-degraded mangroves, with over 1,000 hectares of shoreline already rehabilitated.
Zabbey further revealed that 49 Ogoni communities have been connected to potable water schemes through multiple water projects and booster stations aimed at providing safe drinking water across the region.
In the health sector, he said the 100-bed Ogoni Specialist Hospital in Kpite and the 43-bed Cottage Hospital in Buan are nearing completion, adding that several existing health facilities have been upgraded with modern medical equipment, while five ambulances have been donated to improve emergency healthcare services. The Project Coordinator also disclosed that a three-year human health biomonitoring study is being conducted in collaboration with the World Health Organization’s International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC).
On economic empowerment, Zabbey stated that the Project has created more than 8,000 direct jobs and trained thousands of Ogoni youths and women in various vocational and technical skills, including software development, cybersecurity, aviation, commercial diving, seafaring, mechatronics, and creative arts. The project also reported awarding scholarships to more than 1,000 students, providing grants to small businesses, and supporting persons living with special needs through skills acquisition programmes.
The statement further highlighted ongoing legacy projects, including the Ogoni Power Project and the Centre of Excellence for Environmental Restoration, which it said is about 96 per cent complete. HYPREP also welcomed the recent designation of the Ogoni Wetland as a Ramsar Site of International Importance and pledged to continue promoting biodiversity conservation and sustainable management of the ecosystem.
Marking the anniversary, Zabbey said the progress achieved over the past 15 years demonstrates the collective commitment of government, development partners, stakeholders, and local communities to restoring Ogoniland. He called for renewed collaboration to sustain the cleanup effort, promote environmental sustainability, and support the long-term development of the region. 3