Nation
HYPREP Explains Distribution Of Cookstoves To Women
The Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP) has given reasons for the distribution of cook stoves to Ogoni women as part of activities to mark this year’s International Mangrove Day. The day is celebrated on July 26 every year.
While marking the day, the Project Coordinator of HYPREP, Prof Deinibarini Zabbey said in a statement issued in Port Harcourt that the cookstove project is a strategic initiative designed to discourage the cutting down of mangroves and reduce reliance on mangroves for fuel, thereby preserving the mangrove ecosystem.
Zabbey noted that while commemorating the day, HYPREP launched the Grow coon as a sustainable alternative to using single-use plastics to nurse mangrove seedlings and also distributed the cookstoves to Ogoni women.
He said the International Mangrove Day is dedicated to raising awareness about mangrove ecosystems’ significance, threats and sustenance, stressing that this year’s celebration was significant, as the world is halfway into the United Nations Decade of Ecosystem Restoration.
According to him, mangroves are a critical ecosystem requiring restoration and are vital for maintaining coastal biodiversity; protecting shorelines; mitigating climate change; and supporting the livelihoods of local communities.
He said mangroves provide vital resources like timber, firewood, and medicinal plants, and support fisheries production, contending that the Niger Delta, which has the largest expanse of mangroves in Africa faces significant threats of oil pollution; spread of nipa palm; unsustainable harvesting; habitat fragmentation; urbanisation(reclamation and conversion); dredging; and climate change.
The Project Coordinator revealed that HYPREP has started restoring oil-degraded mangroves in Ogoniland, with a pilot area of 560 hectares.
He further explained that HYPREP’s mandate includes the remediation of oil-polluted sites, restoration of ecosystems, provision of potable water, and improvement of livelihoods in Ogoniland.
Zabbey listed the key achievements of HYPREP relating to mangroves to include the assessment of over 3,000 hectares of oil-impacted shorelines; commencement of the clean-up of 1,747 hectares of the assessed shoreline; piloting the mangrove rehabilitation of 560 hectares; and training of 90 mangrove vanguards and supporting them in setting up mangrove nurseries.
He also disclosed that HYPREP has published user-friendly manuals for mangrove restoration in the Niger Delta, and also created and funded environment clubs in secondary schools in Ogoniland to sustain education, awareness and sensitisation on the risks of wetland degradation.
Zabbey noted that while significant progress has been made so far, the future of mangrove conservation in Ogoniland and the Niger Delta depends on sustained efforts and commitment from various stakeholders, including the government, local communities, NGOs, and the private sector.
He said ensuring the long-term health and resilience of the mangrove ecosystems in Ogoniland and the Niger Delta requires key strategies, saying HYPREP would continue to encourage sustainable land use and management practices and also continues to empower local communities to participate actively in mangrove conservation.
Zabbey said it would also continue to support research and innovation on mangrove ecology, restoration techniques, and the impacts of pollution, which are essential for developing effective conservation strategies.
According to him, innovative approaches and technologies can enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of remediation efforts.
He said sustainable income is another key strategy required for the health and resilience of the mangrove ecosystems in Ogoniland and the Niger Delta, adding that HYPREP is working towards baseline carbon sequestration data in coastal communities on the carbon credit market.
According to him, with the collaboration of other stakeholders, this opportunity would grant communities access to sustainable income for social development.
Commenting on the international collaboration strategy, he said global cooperation and partnerships can provide the technical expertise, financial resources and knowledge exchange needed to support mangrove conservation in Ogoniland.
“International organisations and donor agencies play a key role in supporting local efforts. Through sustained commitment, and collaborative action, it is possible to restore the health of mangrove ecosystems, secure the livelihoods of local communities, and ensure a resilient future for Ogoniland and the Niger Delta,” he said.
Donatus Ebi
The Executive Secretary of the Pension Transitional Arrangement Directorate (PTAD), Dr Chioma Ejikeme, has reiterated the commitment to service delivery for pensioners.
Ejikeme said this during the Customer Service Week in Abuja, yesterday.
He said that commission had a mandate to deliver good service delivery to the pensioners.
Ejikeme, who was represented by the Director Civil Service Pension Department, Mr Kabir Yusuf, said that the customer service week was important to operations of PTAD.
“Customer service is the support that you give to a customer, whether it is an existing customer or potential customer in the process of delivering or making enquires about a service.
“To be a good customer service representative you need to be knowledgeable, have good attitude and attribute especially to the senior citizens and have empathy,” he said.
Ejikeme said that all PTAD staff had most of the attributes of a good customer representative.
“We provide excellent customer service by going to verify our aged pensioners who cannot do it by themselves anywhere across the country.
“There is a dedicated team that was mandated to go round to confirm the aliveness of those who can not confirm their aliveness either because the are too old or have health issues,” the executive secretary said.
The National Coordinator, SERVICOM, Mrs Nnenna Akajemeli, said that the official theme of the 2024 customer service week was “ We Go Above and Beyond For Our Customers.”
She commended PTAD and the SERVICOM team for organising the 2024 customer service week.
“This is in line with the best practice of celebrating frontline workers and service takers.
“Customer service week is celebrated annually during the first full week in October.
It calls attention to the importance of people to boost morale team work and departmental collaboration in supporting pensioners.
“ It is a platform to reward employees for the significant work they do,” Akajemeli said.
She said that the objective of the customer service week was to celebrate the hard work and dedication of employee who strived to create positive customer experiences.
She said that it was time to show customers that the organisation valued their experience and feedback, through comment cards, dedicated hotline, among others.
Akajemeli said that it raised awareness internally and externally about the importance of good customer service in building customer loyalty and satisfaction.
She said that the benefit was to increase motivation, show appreciation, encourage friendly competition, boost employee retention, create a positive workplace and increase productivity.
The Head, Surveillance Department at the National Pension Commission (PenCom), Mr Abdulrahman Saleem, said that good service delivery was the key success of every establishment.
Salem said that PTAD operated with standard, considering the success it had achieved so far.
Saleem said that pensioners required the best service attitude and behavior.
“ I give kudos to PTAD for its efforts and encourage it to do more.
“Therefore I urge PTAD staff to keep up the standard and continue to give good service to the pensioners,” he said.
The Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Hasan Abubakar, has honoured Flying Officer David Sangokoya for winning the 2023/2024 Royal Air Force College Cranwell International Cadet Sword of Honour.
Abubakar honoured the officer during the presentation of cheques to 13 beneficiaries of the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) Group Personal Accident Insurance Policy (GPAIP) in Abuja, yesterday.
He described the achievement as ground-breaking as it was the first time an African cadet had won the prestigious award since the Academy’s creation over 100 years ago.
According to him, the feat underscores the excellence that exists within NAF, and proof that NAF officers and cadets can stand shoulder to shoulder with the best in the world.
“To our awardee, you have set a new standard, not just for your peers, but for every cadet and officer that will come after you.
“This accomplishment is a powerful reminder that no goal is out of reach when one is armed with dedication, discipline and an unwavering commitment to excellence.
“Your journey as an officer has begun with this prestigious accolade, but the true measure of your success will be seen in how you serve, lead and contribute to the mission of NAF and the defence of our great nation.
“As we celebrate this historic occasion, we extend our deepest gratitude to the United Kingdom Government for its unwavering support in providing world-class training opportunities to our personnel.
“This has enabled our officers and men to gain invaluable skills and knowledge, strengthening not only our bilateral ties but also our collective ability to address global security challenges,” he said.
The CAS said that the NAF looked forward to continuing the fruitful partnership for the mutual benefit of Nigeria and UK countries.
He expressed gratitude and unflinching loyalty to President Bola Tinubu for his commitment to the welfare and training of members of the Armed Forces of Nigeria, and NAF in particular.
“I must also take a moment to extend my heartfelt appreciation to the leadership of the Nigerian Defence Academy and the instructors who helped to mould and prepare this cadet for the global stage.
“Their dedication and commitment to developing top-notch officers is evident in this ground-breaking achievement.
“You have not only trained a leader but have given the Nigerian Air Force a legacy we will all cherish,” he said.
National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) has advocated private sector involvement to strengthen Nigeria’s healthcare system.
The Director-General of the authority, Dr Kelechi Ohiri, made the call at a high-level policy dialogue on sustainable health system reforms in Nigeria in Abuja, yesterday.
The Tide’s source reports that the dialogue was organised by the Healthcare Federation of Nigeria (HFN), a coalition of private sector stakeholders, to address the multifaceted challenges plaguing the country’s healthcare system.
The dialogue has “Private Sector Support for SWAP (Sector Wide Approach) in Healthcare” as its theme.
Represented by Dr Yakubu Agada-Amade, the NHIA Director of Standards and Quality Assurance, Ohiri explained the crucial role of private sector collaboration in strengthening Nigeria’s healthcare system
He highlighted the “One Plan” under the SWAp framework, which seeks to unify health sector efforts, ensuring efficient resource use, effective governance and expanded healthcare access.
He also stressed the importance of overcoming barriers that historically hindered the implementation of healthcare interventions in Nigeria, such as inadequate financing, weak governance systems, and bureaucratic bottlenecks.
He added that “the dialogue explored innovative approaches, including digital health innovations and financing mechanisms to accelerate the implementation of the National Health Act and mandatory health insurance coverage.
“With enrollment in health insurance growing by 14 per cent over the past year, NHIA can push for greater inclusivity, particularly targeting the informal sector through flexible payment systems and partnerships with telecommunications companies.”
He called for stronger synergy between public and private health actors to ensure universal access to quality healthcare and sustainable reforms in line with the Nigeria Health Sector Renewal Investment Initiative (NHSRII).
Panelists from the Association of Nigerian Private Medical Practitioners (ANPMP), Healthcare Providers Association of Nigeria (HCPAN) and Health and Managed Care Association of Nigeria (HMCAN) echoed the sentiments, underscoring the private sector’s role in expanding insurance coverage and improving healthcare delivery.
They commended NHIA’s efforts toward driving reforms to achieve Universal Health Coverage (UHC) through the Sector-Wide Approach (SWAp).