July 25, 2025
The Project Coordinator of the Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project, HYPREP, Professor Nenibarini Zabbey, has said that in furtherance of its policy of inclusivity, women will form 45 per cent of it workforce in the clean up exercise.
He said the policy is geared towards bridging the disparity between women and the underserved communities including Ogoni persons living with disabilities in Project execution.
Prof. Zabbey, made the commitment while receiving the Founding Executive Director of the African Centre for Leadership, Strategy & Development- Centre-LSD, Dr Otive Igbuzor, and some Civil Society Organisations, at the Project Coordination Office in Port Harcourt.
He stated that HYPREP has increased women’s participation from 5% to 45% adding that persons living with disabilities now have more stake in the Project as members will be undergoing training in 5 vocational skill sets including Fish farming, Basic computer, Photography, Fashion & Design and Shoe making.
READ MORE; HYPREP, Hands Over Cheques To 300 Postgraduate Scholarship Recipients From Ogoniland .
This is coming at the heels of a Needs Assessment earlier conducted with its members.
The Project Coordinator, informed the guests that the Project prioritises transparency, accountability and robust community and stakeholders engagement and welcomes useful feedbacks, noting that the visit would further boost the Project’s remediation effort and livelihood restoration in Ogoniland.
He explained that HYPREP has achieved significant progress across key thematic areas including, land and ground water remediation, Shoreline remediation, Mangrove Restoration Project, Sustainable livelihood/Capacity Development, Provision of Potable Water, Constructions of the Centre of Excellence for Environmental Restoration (CEER), Ogoni Specialist Hospital, Buan Cottage Hospital, Ogoni Power Project, among others.
Specifically on the provision of potable water, the PC disclosed that the Project have completed another 5 water project in Eteo, Taabaa, Uegwere-Boue, Bodo and Bane which will be commissioned this August.
He reiterated the Project’s commitment to implementing all the recommendations of the UN Environment Programme tagged in post Report on Ogoni
Prof. Zabbey, appealed to the Civil Society groups to support the Project by developing programmes around it in advocacy and sensitisation. He pointed out that the Project is partnering with local and international universities, institutions, communities and regulators.
Earlier the Founding Executive Director of the African Centre for Leadership, Strategy & Development- Centre Dr Otive Igbuzor, in his address, said the advocacy visit was a call for renewed commitment, collective responsibility and accountable action for the accelerated and transparent cleanup of Ogoni, the Niger Delta and the revamp of the ecosystem and Pledged its readiness to partner with HYPREP through advocacy, monitoring and mobilisation.
