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Niger Delta

900 Youths Set To Benefit From LIFE-ND Programme

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About 900 youths and women have been enlisted to benefit from the Livelihood Improvement Family Enterprises in Niger Delta ( LIFE-ND) agriculture business programme in Delta State.
The State Project Coordinator, LIFE-ND, Mr Collins Ashoro disclosed this while addressing the beneficiaries at a one- day orientation programme in Agbor, Ika South Local Government Area of the State.
He said the project had empowered and graduated 320 youths and women in its first phase in four agriculture business areas of poultry, fishery, oil palm and cassava in Delta.
“LIFE-ND, a Federal Government initiated project in partnership with International Funds for Agricultural Development (IFAD) and the State Government, is focused on developing the Agricultural sector of the economy to reduce youth unemployment.
“The Project, which was initially scheduled to be implemented in the nine Niger Delta States of Abia, Bayelsa, Cross River, Delta, Edo, Ondo, Imo, Akwa Ibom and Rivers, is now effective only in the six IFAD funded states of Abia, Bayelsa, Cross River, Delta, Edo and Ondo.
“I will like to inform you that LIFE-ND Project, whose goal is to transform the rural economy, also has the objective of enhancing the income, food security and job creation of rural youth and women through agribusiness development on a sustainable basis in the Niger Delta region of Nigeria.
“This engagement and training of the new 900 beneficiaries is the second in the series since the commencement of the project in 2019 for the youth between ages 18 and 35 years who are not gainfully employed.
“Delta State LIFE-ND Project has empowered 320 youths and women in four agriculture businesses namely, poultry, fishery, oil palm and cassava in 58 incubation centres located in 52 communities in 10 participating LGA,” Ashoro said.
He stated that the 900 beneficiaries were screened in their communities and were selected based on several criteria, adding that they would also be trained in four agriculture businesses of poultry, fishery, oil palm and cassava.
According to Ashoro, the orientation programme is staggered and taking place simultaneously at various locations in Ika South, Ika North East, Ndokwa West, Ndokwa East, Bomadi, Burutu, Uvwie, Sapele, Ughelli North, Ethiope East and Okpe LGAs in Delta.
“The LIFE-ND Project is special because it uses a unique implementation approach called Agribusiness Incubation Model, like the Igbo’s business strategy of Master-Servant Apprenticeship model employed in training and empowering the youths in the eastern part of Nigeria,” he said.
The Project Coordinator lauded the Governor IfeanyiOkowa-led government’s “SMART” Agenda Programme which robust agricultural policies has helped to bring prosperity to the people of the state, especially the youths.
He, therefore, encouraged the beneficiaries (incubators and incubatees) to take full advantage of the training to equip themselves with the necessary skills to become the next generation of Nigeria successful entrepreneurs.
“It is pertinent to mention that through the two major components and four sub-components of the projects, significant impacts have been made in the area of infrastructural development, input distribution and capacity building,” Ashoro said.
In his remarks, the Permanent Secretary, Delta State Ministry of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Mr Ben Agamah, said the design and implementation of LIFE-ND project was through the incubation model which is trainee-centered, service oriented, and result based.
He lauded the state officials of the project, adding that the commencement of LIFE-ND Project by the State was a step in the right direction.
Agamah charged the beneficiaries to take the training serious and to consider it as a lifetime opportunity and to take full advantage of it by demonstrating the willingness to learn and capacity to grow.
On their part, Ika South Council Chairman, Sunny Tatabuzogwu and Chairman, Delta Agricultural Development Agency, Dr Emmanuel Tidi, lauded the project for its capacity to create jobs, wealth and development across the state.
Some of the beneficiaries lauded the sponsors and the state government for the training while pledging their commitment to the programme.

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Niger Delta

Cancer Risk: HYPREP, IARC Launch Human Biometric Study in Ogoniland

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The Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP) and an agency of the World Health Organisation(WHO), the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) have launched a three-year public health study, to investigate the health impacts of hydrocarbon pollution in Ogoniland in Rivers State.

 

 

Speaking at the kick-off meeting with IARC team at the Project Coordination Office in Port Harcourt, the Project Coordinator of HYPREP, Prof Nenibarini Zabbey, noted that the initiative is in line with the key recommendations of the 2011 United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) report on Ogoniland, which highlighted the need for a long-term, focused medical study to track health impacts across the Ogoni population.

 

 

He said the study is aimed at conducting a comprehensive health risk assessment linked to hydrocarbon pollution; build capacity for local health professionals; and provide clear recommendations for public health responses based on the findings at the end of the day.

 

 

According to him,   community involvement is a cornerstone of the project.

 

“Community leaders, civil society groups, and health institutions must be brought into this process from the onset to ensure trust, ownership, and relevance,” he intoned.

 

He further indicated that the project would prioritise transparency, continuous stakeholder engagement, and ethical compliance throughout the study.

 

 

“HYPREP will provide necessary technical, logistical, and institutional support to facilitate smooth project implementation. The project schedule will be jointly reviewed and finalised, and a steering and technical coordination team will be established to oversee the study.The study is expected to drive policy interventions, public health planning, and long-term monitoring of the Ogoni population’s wellbeing. The outcomes of the project will be credible, actionable, and globally recognised, thanks to IARC’s international expertise and scientific rigor,” he said.

 

The Project Coordinator said the project is expected to bring healing, hope, and progress to Ogoniland and beyond.

 

 

“In addition to the public health study, HYPREP is constructing the Ogoni Specialist Hospital, which will feature state-of-the-art diagnostic equipment, including cutting-edge MRI machines. This facility will significantly improve healthcare services in the region,” he said.

 

 

Also, IARC leader of the team, Dr. Joachim Schuz, in an interview after the meeting, noted that the study aims to provide concrete evidence of the impact of environmental pollution on the health of the people.

 

“We do not want to be speculating, we need to show it, we need to prove what is going on beneath,” he emphasised.

 

 

He explained that the study would collect blood samples from approximately 4,000 people to measure the levels of hydrocarbon exposure and assess the damage already caused.

 

 

He noted that they would also gather information on the living conditions of the people, including their exposure to pollutants and other health risks.

 

He ,however, urged the people of Ogoniland to participate in the study, which is expected to provide valuable information for public health planning and disease prevention.

 

Schuz further noted that the study is an investment in the health of the people, stressing that it would provide critical information for developing effective public health programmes.

 

“Without this study, we do not have the information to do a proper planning for good public health planning for the benefit of the people in the long run,” he said.

 

 

 

A member of the team, Mr Mike Cowing said samples would be taken from areas where groundwater and crops are contaminated with hydrocarbons.

 

According to information pierced together, the study will include men, women, and children, and will aim to capture the different ways in which hydrocarbon pollution affects various segments of the Ogoni population.

 

 

Another member of the medical team, Ann Olsson noted that children can be affected differently from adults due to their smaller body size and higher exposure levels.

 

She said the  team is working to ensure that the study is a representative of the entire Ogoni population, with a focus on finding solutions to sample representatives from the four local government areas.

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Niger Delta

HYPREP Trains Lab Technicians To Standardise Water Quality In Ogoniland

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As part of efforts in ensuring that the people of Ogoni get the right water quality, the Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project(HYPREP) has organised a training programme for laboratory technicians working in all its water stations in Ogoniland.

 

At the training held in Port Harcourt, HYPREP’s Director of Technical Services, Prof Damian-Paul Aguiyi, who explained the essence of the training programme said it would ensure that laboratory attendants strictly observe standard protocol for water quality test before reticulation.

 

He noted that the training would sharpen their skills for better performance in the supply of quality water to the Ogoni people.

 

“The essence of this training workshop I want to emphasise is for us to be sure that the people who operate the treatment plants in our water facilities know what to do and do the right thing all the time.So, we are taking extra pain to train you on laboratory practices that you will subject the water you give our people to, and our expectation is that you will need to understand this and when you do, make sure we are giving our people quality water.We want to be sure that while you are doing your work, you ensure that the quality of water we give our people meets international standards, meets WHO drinking water standards, and so, we feel that a key component of it is the laboratory management where you will taste the water before and after dosage; and that would guide what you dose and the quality.Make sure that our people get the right quality water to drink and in doing so, ensure that they are healthy because if you drink clean good quality water, you are most likely not to be exposed to water borne diseases, and so, we want you to pay attention,” he said.

 

The Director of Technical Services reaffirmed HYPREP’s commitment to providing potable water that meets best standards, saying the Project is optimistic that the training would benefit the participants, and urged them to apply the knowledge garnered for the good of Ogoni communities.

 

On his part, HYPREP’s Head of Potable Water, Mr Lucky Ikue, while echoing the views of the Director of Technical Services, harped on the need for standardisation in the quality of water supply in Ogoniland.

 

As it were, participants were guided on water sampling techniques, analysis and use of laboratory equipment, affording them the opportunity to upscale their skills in the collection and test of water samples; perform physical, chemical and microbiological tests, and understand the result, to improve technical capacity, develop and maintain practice in laboratory analysis.

 

The trainees equally explored physiochemical parameters such as chloride, total hardness, alkalinity, nitrate, sulphate and phosphate, microbial hydrocarbon and heavy metal analysis.

 

HYPREP is gearing up for the next round of its water projects commissioning. This month, four water stations would be commissioned in Uegwere-Boue and Taabaa communities in Khana Local Government Area, Bodo community in Gokana Local Government Area, and Eteo community in Eleme Local Government Area. This is even as the Project continues in actualising its target of providing more potable water to more Ogoni communities by the end of the year.

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Niger Delta

Oborevwori Boosts Digitalisation With Ulesson 500 Tablets To Pupils, Students

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In a move to promote digital literacy and educational inclusion, the First Lady of Delta State, Her Excellency, Deaconess Tobore Oborevwori, has distributed 500 uLesson tablets to students in public primary and secondary schools across the state.
The distribution, which took place recently at Government House, Asaba, was carried out in collaboration with the Renewed Hope Initiative and the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).
Speaking at the event, Deaconess Oborevwori described the gesture as a meaningful investment in the future of Delta State’s children.
“Again, we are giving students from the Primary, Junior, and Senior Secondary Schools five hundred uLesson tablets, one hundred for Primary, two hundred for Junior Secondary, and two hundred for Senior Secondary schools”, she stated.
She explained that the initiative is part of a broader mission to equip students with the tools needed to succeed in a digital world.
“This is a Renewed Hope Initiative and NDDC educational collaboration,” she noted.
The First Lady expressed hope that the tablets would inspire independent learning and improved academic performance, especially among students in underserved communities.
“It is my earnest prayer that whatever we are giving will multiply a hundredfold in Jesus’ name”, she concluded.
In her welcome address, the Wife of the Deputy Governor, Mrs. Catherine Onyeme, described the initiative as a reflection of the administration’s commitment to empowerment.
“This is what this government is known for, enriching and empowering the people around us”, she said, calling the effort “a beacon of progress.”
Mrs. Onyeme also addressed traders present at the event, encouraging them to use the support they received with care and purpose.
Earlier, the Commissioner for Primary Education, Dr. Kingsley Ashibogwu, highlighted the importance of technology in expanding the horizons of young learners.
“With access to the internet, children can do a lot using this tablet. This gadget will enable them to continue conquering the world”, he remarked.
He also praised the state government’s commitment to security and holistic development.
Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education, Mrs. Rose Ezewu, also commended Deaconess Oborevwori and the First Lady of Nigeria for their roles in inspiring hope and uplifting the younger generation.
The event featured the distribution of 500 uLesson tablets to students, gas ovens for bakers, grinding machines for traders, and cash grants to support small businesses.
Beneficiaries expressed appreciation to the Wife of the Governor and the First Lady of Nigeria for the support and encouragement.
Albert Ograka, Asaba
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