The Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP) has charged 300 postgraduate awardees to prioritize peacebuilding in Ogoni, emphasizing that development and progress can only thrive in an environment of peace and stability.
At the award ceremony held on January 30, 2025, in Port Harcourt, the project coordinator of HYPREP, Professor Nenibarini Zabbey, urged the awardees to form clusters that facilitate peacebuilding initiatives, promoting unity, collaboration, and peaceful coexistence within Ogoni communities.
He noted that education is a transformative tool that can unlock new opportunities and create sustainable alternative sources of livelihood for oil-impacted communities in Ogoni.
Zabbey noted that as postgraduate students, the awardees have a critical role to play in promoting peace and development in Ogoni, emphasising that their education is not only for personal growth but also for the transformation of their communities.
He emphasized that HYPREP’s mandate goes beyond environmental remediation to include livelihood restoration and peacebuilding, stressing that the organisation is committed to creating a conducive environment for development to thrive in Ogoni.
The 300 postgraduate awardees, who were selected from various disciplines, were awarded scholarships to pursue their studies, with HYPREP committing to supporting their education and development.
The project coordinator also highlighted the progress made by HYPREP in implementing its mandate, including the ongoing construction of the Centre of Excellence for Environmental Restoration (CEER), Ogoni Specialist Hospital, and the Ogoni Power Project.
He noted that new projects will be launched this year to create more jobs and strengthen the employability capacity of Ogoni youth and women.
Zabbey emphasised the importance of continuous civic responsibility and constructive engagement in Ogoni communities, urging residents to protect HYPREP’s image, facilities, and sites from negative tendencies.
He announced that HYPREP will initiate civic education and constructive engagement initiatives to deepen understanding of community responsibilities and address challenges hindering progress.
He added that HYPREP completed the selection process for its postgraduate scholarship scheme, with 300 candidates emerging from a pool of over 1,200 participants.
Also, Edward Baa, MD of Pa-Ed Multilinks Consulting, the firm responsible for facilitating the scheme, noted that the process began with a sensitisation programme that attracted over 1,200 participants.
This was followed by an orientation session, where candidates were informed about the program’s requirements and expectations.
He further said a total of 837 candidates registered for the programme, and 766 of them showed up for the aptitude test. After the test, 474 candidates qualified for the verification process, which was the final stage of the selection process.
He said the results of the selection process showed a good spread across the four local government areas (LGAs) of Khana, Gokana, Eleme, and Tai. Khana had the highest success rate, with 45 per cent of its candidates emerging successful, followed by Gokana with 29 per cent, Eleme with 15 per cent, and Tai with 10 per cent.
The registration statistics also reflected a similar spread, with Khana accounting for 45 per cent of the total registration, followed by Gokana with 30.9 per cent, Eleme with 23.7 per cent, and Tai with 11.2 per cent.
The selection of the 300 recipients was deemed successful, as it reflected a good spread across the four LGAs. The scholarship scheme is targeted at 300 candidates, comprising 100 PhD students and 200 master’s students.
The ceremony was attended by His Royal Majesty, respected chiefs, elders, and guests, as well as Ogoni students’ leadership and the media.
