Irked by continuing acts of illegal bunkering and other forms of unconventional emissions into the Ogoni environment, the Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP) has rolled out plans to train some 10,000 youths of Ogoni in high profile skills, to better their lives.
HYPRE’s Head of Livelihood, Mrs. Josephine Nzidee who stated this while speaking at a one-day sensitization seminar on Anti-bunkering/ Re-pollution in Tai Local Government Area on Wednesday, said the agency is taking the action as continuing pollution of the Ogoni environment runs counter to the aims and objective of the federal government agency.
Stating that beneficiaries of the programme would be drawn from the four Ogoni LGAs of Tai, Eleme, Khana and Gokana, Mrs. Nzidee said to benefit from the training, prospective youths of Ogoni would be required to write an online examination to ensure that only qualified candidates emerge.
The Head of Livelihood said after carrying out a NEED assessment among youths in the whole of Ogoniland, the agency identified about 64 different businesses, adding that all of the skills programme would be digital-based as, according to her, many youths have acquired Android smart phones and computers.
“Selection of the trainees would be a transparent process. Chiefs and so called community leaders would not be asked for nomination of persons for these HYPREP support. Everything would be done purely through an online process”, she said.
Mrs. Nzidee disclosed that one of the areas for training is Metatronics and Instrumentation.
Her words, “Of the 10,000 Ogonis, about 100 youths will benefit from this Metatronics and Instrumentation. These are people who studied Mechanical Engineering, Electrical and Electronics Engineering, Computer Science or Physics.
“The world has gone digital. These youths will be trained to work in aviation, oil and gas and other sectors of the economy”.
She added that HYPREP would also train those wishing to engage in different forms of commercial activities, stressing that upon graduation, the trainees would not be given cash in their hands for start-up.
“We want to avoid the temptation of somebody for instance, going to marry a second wife. We’ll make direct purchases for anyone doing buying and selling. HYPREP has already kept the money to support these businesses”, Nzidee said.
She also disclosed that HYPREP would support Ogoni students through scholarships awards, adding that successful candidates would get their choice courses and universities in Nigeria while also stressing that all monies would be paid into the students bank accounts.
The HYPREP’s Head of Livelihood also revealed that an Environment Club would be set up in select secondary schools in Ogoniland, with the objective of imparting early education on young Ogoni children the negative effect of illegal bunkering and other forms of environmental pollution.
