Nation
HYPREP Moves To Offer Postgraduate Scholarships To Ogoni Students
The Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP) says its postgraduate scholarship scheme for Ogoni students is expected to commence this month.
The Project Coordinator of HYPREP, Prof Deinibarini Zabbey, who gave the indication while addressing participants during a quarterly interactive session with Ogoni youths in Port Harcourt, said as part of HYPREP’s expanded livelihood programme, it is rolling out the new scholarship scheme as a new initiative to provide local postgraduate scholarship support to Ogoni students starting in October 2024.
He noted that the scholarship programme is a significant development, as HYPREP’s objective is to empower Ogoni youths to pursue advanced education in fields that would benefit the Ogoni community and the nation at large.
Zabbey further indicated that HYPREP believes that education is critical to long-term development, saying, this scholarship initiative is designed to create a cadre of skilled professionals in keeping with its effort to develop alternative sources of livelihood for youths who will lead Ogoniland into a green and prosperous future.
The Project Coordinator equally revealed that the livelihood programme also includes support to small and medium-scale businesses, youth training, capacity building and other empowerment initiatives to ensure that as the Project restores the land, it is also building the people’s capacity, especially, that of Ogoni youths, to move up the income ladder.
According to him, HYPREP also has special programmes for people living with disabilities, so as to equip them with the information, skills, education and resources needed to live more meaningfully.
He noted that the quarterly interactive session represents a platform for dialogue and an opportunity for the Project Coordination Office to update the youths on the significant progress in various aspects of the Project, stressing that by hosting the event this time around, HYPREP has again demonstrated that it is a promise keeper.
Zabbey expressed delight that “today, we celebrate progress in remediating hydrocarbon-impacted land; shoreline clean-up; mangrove restoration; and constructing critical infrastructure in Ogoniland, which include the Centre of Excellence for Environmental Restoration; the Ogoni power project; the Ogoni Specialist Hospital; the Buan Cottage Hospital; 14 water schemes; and an array of other special projects that will impact the lives of every Ogoni person.”
The Project Coordinator reaffirmed the commitment of HYPREP to implementing the recommendations of the United Nations Environment Programme(UNEP) Assessment Report on Ogoniland.
He disclosed that the Centre of Excellence for Environmental Restoration would be operational in 2025, a project, he noted has already become visible on the skyline of Ogoniland, adding that when completed, it would stand as a beacon of cutting-edge research and a repository of the science and art of environmental remediation, placing Ogoniland at the forefront of environmental remediation in Nigeria and across West Africa.
He also revealed that additional water projects would soon be commissioned in more Ogoni communities.
He said the active phase of the Ogoni power project, which would include the construction of electricity towers will commence soon, stressing that HYPREP has surveyed the right of way for the project, while compensation had been paid to property owners in Khana Local Government Area and was at the verge of doing same to Gokana Local Government Area before moving to Tai Local Government Area.
Zabbey further hinted that HYPREP team would soon travel to India over the power project, and assured the youths that the Project is very committed to the power project.
He also disclosed that beneficiaries of the Project’s livelihood programme would soon take delivery of their starter-packs, as consultants have started picking up their letters for that purpose.
While harping on the need for peace, the Project Coordinator told the youths that, “as we continue to work, peace and cooperation must remain at the forefront of all our activities in Ogoniland.”
In his keynote address, a senior lecturer in the Department of Business Administration of the Rivers State University, Dr Sorbarikor Lebura listed the various types of temperaments which can influence the actions and behaviours of human beings, and stressed the need for Ogoni people to take advantage of all the projects and programmes being carried out by HYPREP in their domains.
According to him, all the various types of temperaments are useful to the Project.
He, however, advised the youths to always control their temperaments so as to benefit maximally from the projects and programmes.
Lebura also highlighted the importance of collaboration, saying the Project cannot succeed without collaborating with the various stakeholders.
Also speaking, former National Deputy President of the Nigeria Civil Service Union (NCSU), Comrade Menele Nzidee thanked the youths for their support to the Project Coordinator and his team, and urged them to take ownership of the Project.
He particularly commended HYPREP for the postgraduate scholarship initiative, saying, it is a way of expanding the empowerment scope of the Ogoni people.
Donatus Ebi
A non- governmental organisation under the aegis of South South Media Association has presented an award to the Divisional Police Officer, Omoku ,CSP John Ladan.
The event which held recently in Omoku in Ogba/ Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area of Rivers State, saw the attendance of top ranking officers and well wishers who gathered to celebrate an icon.
Presenting the award, the Chairman of the group, Kio Hopeson, said following the DPO’s selfless service to humanity, peace and development of the society, the group found him worthy to receive the award.
Hopeson hinted that the award had long been overdue, as his posting to Omoku had brought about peace, social harmony and drastic reduction of crime, saying, his open door policy and ensuring that every stakeholder is carried along in the fight against crime, was a contributing factor.
He said their investigation revealed that the people were extremely pleased with the reduction of crime under his watch in the area, stressing that his effort to interface with everyone has boosted the cooperation between the police and the residents.
On his part, the recipient, CSP John Ladan thanked the group for the honour done him.
The DPO expressed his gratitude to God and the Commissioner of Police for the support given him to serve.
He urged the people to see the police as friends as their job is protection of lives and property.
As part of efforts towards enrolment into the National Health Fellows programm of the Federal Government, the Rivers State Government in partnership with the World Health Organisation, (WHO) and other development partners has started the process of interviews for the selection of health professionals to be enrolled into the programme.
The National Health Fellows Programme is an interventionist initiative by the Federal and State Governments following the declaration of a state-of-emergency on the health sector by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in 2023.
The initiative is aimed at reducing the physical and financial burdens on health-seeking Nigerians.
Briefing newsmen in Port Harcourt, the Acting Director, Research and Planning, Rivers State Ministry of Health, Dr Juliane Nwoke, who spoke on behalf of the State Commissioner for Health, Dr Adaeze Oreh said the programme is expected to enrol 774 persons representing each of the local government areas in the country.
In Rivers State, she said 23 persons are expected to emerge from the 69 shortlisted candidates, adding that already, nine persons have been interviewed, adding that the successful candidates would be engaged by the Federal Government for a period of one year to support the provision of healthcare services especially public health at both local, state and national levels.
She explained that core areas of competencies of shortlisted candidates includes public health, proficiency in Information and Communication Technology and data management.
“We have interviewed already, about nine candidates and by the end of today, we’ll be interviewing about 29 candidates.
“The interviews will end officially today for Rivers State because we are expected to interview 69 candidates.
“Specific competencies were considered in the selection process with interest on competencies in public health, ICT and data management, so we received the shortlist of candidates which we expect are based on these competencies.
“As you may know, there is a global and local shortage of manpower, so the 23 who qualifies in this round will add to the skilled manpower that is needed to drive healthcare delivery.
“As per impact, this fellows would be engaged directly by the Federal Government for a period of one year to support healthcare delivery and population health management at the local government, state and perhaps national levels, working directly from their LGAs,” she stated.
Dr. Nwoke assured shortlisted candidates of fairness in the screening process, maintaining that only the best will emerge at the end of the exercise.
John Bibor
The Nigeria Civil Service Union(NCSU) has described as unacceptable, callous, wicked and cruel the judgments and pronouncements of the Supreme Court last Friday, concerning Rivers State political crisis, saying they are nothing to write home about.
This is even as the union has said Nigeria is fast drifting to a Banana Republic, where the rule of law is not upheld but thrown overboard.
The union equally took to the cleaners the Justices, who gave the judgments and pronouncements, for allegedly mortgaging their consciences, and urged Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara not to obey the judgments until such a time that the case bordering on the defection of the 27 pro-Wike lawmakers, pending at the Court of Appeal is dispensed with.
The Rivers State Chairman of NCSU, Comrade Chukwuka Richman Osumah, who canvassed this position in an interview in Port Harcourt, particularly described the judgment ordering the Central Bank of Nigeria(CBN) and the Accountant General of the Federation not to release the Federal Allocations of Rivers State as not only callous and wicked but cruel and self-serving.
He said civil servants in the State in particular reject the judgements and pronouncements of the apex court in their totality, and enjoined them to rise up against all plots and machinations to unseat the Governor, as a demonstration of their love, support and solidarity for him, contending that folding their arms and watching the plots to succeed, would amount to giving the enemies of the State a free rein to overrun the State.
He said the workers firmly believe that those fighting Governor Fubara, are not only fighting him but the people of the State, and enjoined them to rally round the Governor, who he noted has put smiles on their faces within the short period he has been in office.
Osumah noted that the Supreme Court judgments and pronouncements are an attempt by enemies of the State to pull the hands of the clock backwards, considering the monumental achievements of the Fubara administration so far.
He said it is unfortunate that the Justices who handed down the judgments and pronouncements, have through their actions and inaction, desecrated the sacred temple of justice, and by so doing making the judiciary a laughing stock in the eyes of the world, instead of elevating it in such a way that it becomes the much-acclaimed last hope of the masses and the common people in the country.
He decried a situation where the country’s judiciary has rather degenerated to a level where the highest bidders have held it hostage, at the expense of the ordinary people, saying it is a strong indication that the country is fast drifting to a Banana Republic, where the rule of law is bastardised and thrown overboard.
According to him, the judgements and pronouncements portend grave danger for the State and the people, as they are a recipe for chaos, confusion and unabated crises.
Osumah further lamented a situation where the case bordering on the defection of the Martin Amaewhule-led lawmakers is relegated to the background while other contending issues are given undue preference and preeminence, saying the defection case is rather the kernel and pivot on which every other matters concerning the political crisis in the State gravitate.
The labour leader, therefore, stressed the need for the execution of the Supreme Court judgments and pronouncements to wait, pending the final determination of the defection suit, describing as hasty and preposterous the issuance of a 48-hour ultimatum to Governor Fubara by the 27 pro-Wike lawmakers, to present before them the 2025 Budget of the State.
Osumah equally reminded civil servants in the State that the time has come for them to boldly rise up and defend one of their own, and never allow the shenanigans of the old order to overwhelm and subject them once more to the throes and pangs of penury, poverty and needless suffering and hardship.
He recalled with glee that Governor Fubara has wiped away their tears, by not only providing a conducive environment for them to operate but also making sure that their welfare needs are given top priority, thereby restoring and providing all that the enemies of the State had denied them in the past.
While reiterating that the entire workforce in the State vehemently reject the judgments and pronouncements of the Supreme Court, Osumah said the apex court has through such judgements and pronouncements, declared war against the State and her people.