Mkpoikana Udoma
Port Harcourt — The Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project, HYPREP, has announced a skills acquisition programme for 300 persons living with disabilities, PWDs, in Ogoniland, aimed at enhancing economic inclusion and workforce participation in Ogoni’s emerging post-clean-up economy.
The programme, set to begin in January 2026, is part of HYPREP’s broader mandate to implement the UNEP Ogoniland recommendations while creating sustainable livelihood opportunities for local communities.
Speaking at an event to mark the 2025 International Day of Persons with Disabilities, IDPD, commemoration in Wiyaakara Community, Khana Local Government Area of Rivers State, HYPREP Project Coordinator, Prof. Nenibarini Zabbey, described the initiative as “a strategic investment in human capital that empowers disadvantaged groups to fully participate in economic activities stemming from Ogoniland remediation projects.”
“Inclusivity is not charity; it is a matter of justice, dignity, and equality,” Prof. Zabbey said. “By equipping persons with disabilities with market-relevant skills, we are not only transforming individual lives, we are creating an empowered workforce that contributes to Ogoni’s socio-economic recovery.”
The programme comes amid HYPREP’s expansive interventions in Ogoniland, including the construction of 14 solar-powered water schemes serving 40 communities, mangrove restoration of over 1.4 million seedlings, ongoing shoreline and land remediation across 75 sites, and vocational and livelihood programmes impacting thousands of youth and women.
Prof. Zabbey stressed that these interventions are designed to create jobs, strengthen community resilience, and foster long-term economic growth.
As HYPREP continues to implement the UNEP Ogoniland recommendations, initiatives such as this underscore the project’s dual commitment to environmental restoration and socio-economic development.
Prof. Zabbey said, “Investing in persons with disabilities is investing in human capital, social cohesion, and the economic future of Ogoni land. Their abilities matter, their voices count, and their participation is essential to achieving sustainable development outcomes.”
The programme will train PWDs in areas including shoe-making, fashion and design, basic computing, fish farming, and photography.
HYPREP Head of Livelihoods, Mrs. Josephine Nzidee, added that participants will also benefit from mobility and accessibility support, such as prosthetic limbs, wheelchairs, guide canes, clutches, and medicated lenses.
“This is a targeted approach that ensures PWDs can meaningfully engage in local economic activities,” Nzidee said. “We are providing the tools, skills, and practical support needed to integrate them into value chains generated by ongoing remediation, infrastructure development, and social investment projects.”
The programme’s emphasis on market-relevant skills and internationally recognised certification is expected to create pathways to employment, self-employment, and entrepreneurship among PWDs.
“After the training, participants will be fully equipped with modern competencies that meet international standards,” Nzidee explained. “This is about building a workforce that can contribute to both the local and global economy.”
Responding on behalf of the Ogoni PWD community, OGAPWD President, Comrade Ngo Baridapdoo Joy, applauded HYPREP’s inclusive approach while advocating for sustainable structures to support PWDs.
“We are no longer objects of charity. For the first time, our voices and abilities are prioritised. We call on HYPREP and partners to establish a disability empowerment fund, provide mobility solutions, and create scholarship opportunities to sustain our participation in Ogoni’s economy,” he said.
Joy outlined further community requests, including disability-inclusive agricultural programmes, provision of adaptive farming tools, accessible transportation, medical outreaches, and scholarships for students with disabilities.
“We are not asking for charity but for partnership, dignity, and sustainability in these programmes,” he stressed.
