Mkpoikana Udoma
Port Harcourt — In a major step towards livelihoods restoration in Ogoni, the Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project, HYPREP, has begun distribution of starter packs to 5,000 persons from Khana, Gokhana, Eleme, and Tai Local Government Areas of Rivers State, trained in various vocational skills.
The initiative, part of HYPREP’s livelihood program, aims to uplift communities affected by hydrocarbon pollution, providing participants with the tools and knowledge to build sustainable livelihoods.
At a formal ceremony in Port Harcourt, beneficiaries received starter kits and certificates after completing training in 20 different skill areas such as fashion design, argon welding, CCTV installation, makeup artistry, catering, poultry, and fish farming, etc
Speaking, Professor Nenibarini Zabbey, HYPREP’s Project Coordinator, highlighted the Federal Government’s unwavering commitment to empowering the Ogoni people through sustainable development initiatives.
Zabbey emphasized that the livelihood training was just one aspect of a broader effort to restore Ogoni to its former economic vitality, noting that skills acquisition scheme would create significant positive impacts on local economies, helping reduce poverty and improve the quality of life for beneficiaries.
“Today is not the end, but the beginning of a new chapter for the Ogoni people. This project was designed with you in mind, and the Federal Government is committed to seeing it through to ensure that your communities thrive.
“These starter kits represent much more than tools – they are the foundation for building businesses, for lifting your families and communities out of poverty. I urge you all to take full ownership of this opportunity. Use the knowledge and tools you have received to create a lasting impact in your local economies.”
Further emphasizing the importance of taking personal responsibility, Zabbey warned participants against selling their starter kits.
“This is not just a gift. These starter kits are tools for your future. When you sell them, you sell your opportunity for long-term success. Don’t undermine your future. Instead, invest in it, and watch your community grow.”
Zabbey also spoke about the broader goals of HYPREP’s initiatives. “Our vision is to see Ogoni become a hub of diverse economic activity. This is not only about restoring your environment but also about restoring the economic vitality of your communities. The success of this program will not only improve your lives but will also contribute to the growth of the entire nation.”
Earlier, Mrs. Soetan Ireoluwa, one of the program’s lead trainers, urged participants to view the training as just the beginning of a transformative journey with the potential for global success.
“To all the participants who were on the training, you have just started a journey that shouldn’t end. For some of you, we’re hoping that we will see you in the streets of Lagos and London. For some of you, we will get into a restaurant somewhere in the world, and we’ll see you making food for the people there. We want to see your clothes and designs everywhere in the world. So we’re really excited that you all took out the time to learn as we celebrate your achievements today. We hope that you continue to rise higher and higher.”
Similarly, Mrs. Josephine Nzidee, HYPREP’s Head of Livelihoods, acknowledged the challenges involved in implementing such a large-scale program but assured participants that the project would continue to deliver positive results.
“There is no such program of this magnitude that can be carried out without challenges, without issues and concern. But the good thing about all these is that we were able to scale through. We expect the 5000 beneficiaries of this program to be able to change the economic situation across the four local government areas of Ogoni. We have trained you in 20 different skill areas, and the project is expecting to see the positive impact of your knowledge in the four local government area.
“Of course, we cannot have all 5000 persons here today, and so we have picked people from different centers in different areas and to ensure that all the four LGs are here represented, from Tuesday the 10th of December, we will continue with the distribution of the starter packs in different centers.”
Nzidee also confirmed that starter kit distribution would continue on December 10th 2024 with multiple centers set up for beneficiaries who could not attend the event.
Speaking on behalf of the beneficiaries, Barinua Joseph, expressed deep gratitude to HYPREP for not only remediating polluted sites but also for providing the training that will alleviate poverty in Ogoni.
“This program will help us fight poverty and improve living standards for the people of Ogoni,” Joseph stated.
