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
Nation
Rivers Judiciary Denise Media Reports On Issuing Judgement Sacking SOLAD
The Rivers State Judiciary has denied claims of media reports circulating online that a judge of its High Court issued a ruling in favour of Governor Siminalayi Fubara against former Governor Nyesom Wike and President Bola Tinubu, there by sacking the sole Administrator of the state, vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (rtd).
A statement signed by the Chief Registrar of the State High Court, David Ihua-Maduenyi yesterday in Port Harcourt, described the purported report as false and misleading, particularly for linking a judge of the State High Court, Justice Boma Diepirii, to a ruling that reportedly came from a Federal High Court.
According to the statement, Justice Boma Diepirii is a Judge of the Rivers State High Court and not of the Federal High Court and currently on Easter Vacation, which commenced on Monday, 14th April.
The Chief Registrar further clarified that the Federal High Court and the State High Court are separate entities, stressing that “the inclusion of Justice Diepiri’s name in the fabricated report underscores the crass ignorance of the author.”
“The attention of the Rivers State Judiciary has been drawn to a fake news report alleging that His Lordship, Hon. Justice Boma Diepiri, delivered a judgment sacking the Sole Administrator of Rivers State. This is false in its entirety,” the statement read.
“Justice Diepiri is a judge of the High Court of Rivers State, not of the Federal High Court as was falsely reported”.
” Additionally, His Lordship is currently on Easter vacation which began on Monday, April 14, 2025, Ihua-Maduenyi stated.
The statement however advised the general public and members of the media to always cross checked information concerning the judiciary before publishing and as well disregard the said report in its entirety as its an embodiment of falsehood and fabricated story.
Nation
Senate Passes Bill For Establishment Of University In Abia
The Senate yesterday approved the bills for the establishment of Federal University of Medical and Health Sciences and College of Education, Bende at its plenary session.
The two bills sponsored by the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon . Benjamin Kalu came to the Senate for concurrence after the approvals from the House of Representatives.
The Deputy Leader of the Senate, Sen. Lola Ashiru in the absence of the Majority Leader presented the recommendations of the Lower Chamber for consideration and Concurrence .
The Bill for an Act to establish Federal College of Education, Bende in Abia State seeks to provide full-time courses, training in technology, applied sciences, commerce, social sciences, arts and humanities among others.
Kalu had in his lead debate stated that Bende has remained undivided since its creation in 1976, even though with the size of four local government areas as found in comparative federal constituencies.
“Despite its strategic location in Abia and sharing a border with Akwa Ibom, with a growing population and landmass, there is no tertiary institution in the Federal Constituency operated either by Federal or State Government. Bende deserves to have the presence of a tertiary institution to serve the education need of the teeming youthful population, especially now that the need for well-trained educationists has risen. This is accompanied by the need to fill the gaps created by both the consequences of brain drain and the lack of qualified educationists to provide quality training at all levels of education,” he said.
For the bill seeking the establishment of Federal University of Medical and Health Sciences, Bende, Abia State, he said when it becomes law, the university will be charged with the responsibility to, among other things, offer full-time training leading to the award of degrees in medical and health sciences.
Nneka Amaechi-Nnadi
Nation
South East Caucus Kicks As Senate Rejects Nwosu’s Immortalisation
South East Caucus of the Senate has appealed to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to immorttalise late Professor Humphrey Nwosu considering his commitment to achieving a practical democracy for Nigerian.
The Senators visibly angered by the Senate’s rejection of the need to immortalise the late National Electoral umpire who stood for democracy through the turbulent 1993 elections stormed out of the Senate Chambers and spoke to the press .
The Chairman of the South East Caucus, Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe ( Abia South), as he did in plenary on Wednesday, presented a motion for immortalisation of Humphrey Nwosu by naming the national headquarters of the Independent National Electoral Commission ( INEC) , after him , for laying the foundation in 1993 and conducting the freest and fairest Presidential election in the country .
The late Professor Nwosu was the National Chairman of the National Electoral Commission ( NEC) , now known as Independent National Electoral Commission ( INEC) , who through option A4, conducted the June 12, 19993 presidential election , adjudged to be the freest and fairest in the country.
Abaribe in the motion co – sponsored by 15 other Senators , said late Humphrey Nwosu deserved to be immortalised like other heroes of the June 12 , 1993 presidential election .
He also urged the Federal Government to honour the late former electoral umpire with post humous national honours .
But Abaribe’s request , seconded by Senator Victor Umeh (Anambra Central) and supported by Senators from the South East including forner Senate Leader, Yahaya Abdullahi ( Kebbi North) , was roundly rejected by other Senators who said the deceased deserved no immortalization .
Specifically , Senator Adams Oshiomhole ( Edo North) , in his contribution to the debate said the motion to him, was nothing but an attempt to manipulate and rewrite history.
“ Professor Humphrey Nwosu as NEC Chairman in 1993, failed to deliver on the June 12 , 1993 Presidential Election for lack of Courage
“ He who is not ready to die for something , will die for nothing
“ If he was afraid of the gun from announcing the election results and winner in 1993 , he cannot be rewarded now , more so, when many Nigerians died for what he inadvertently created “, he said .
Nneka Amaechi -Nnadi
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