HYPREP trains 100 Ogoni youths in mechatronics to boost skills, livelihoods
The Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP) has begun training 100 Ogoni youths in mechatronics engineering, in a bid to provide sustainable alternative livelihoods and equip participants with advanced technical skills in Ogoniland, Rivers State.
The four-month intensive programme was officially launched on Monday at the Offshore Technology Institute, University of Port Harcourt, aligning with the recommendations of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) report on Ogoniland and HYPREP’s mandate to address environmental degradation while fostering socio-economic development.
At the flag-off ceremony, HYPREP Coordinator Professor Nenibarini Zabbey, represented by the agency’s Director of Technical Services, Professor Damian Paul-Aguinyi, highlighted the importance of the initiative in transitioning Ogoni youths from low-skill jobs to high-demand technical roles, particularly in the oil and gas sector.
“The programme is structured to prepare participants for emerging opportunities, including the anticipated resumption of oil exploration activities in Ogoniland,” Zabbey said.
“It combines academic instruction, industry practice, and innovation, giving the youths globally relevant technical competencies.”
Zabbey added that HYPREP’s collaboration with the University of Port Harcourt was deliberate, ensuring quality training delivery, exposure to best practices, and hands-on industry experience aimed at enhancing employability and entrepreneurial capacity.
In his remarks, the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Port Harcourt, Professor Owunari Georgewill, commended President Bola Tinubu for sustaining the Ogoni remediation programme and supporting HYPREP’s initiatives.
He described the mechatronics training as a strategic investment in the youths’ future and the sustainable development of Ogoniland, highlighting the field’s critical role in automation, manufacturing, and industrial innovation.
Also, Mr. Makozi Samuel, Managing Director of Competent Samco Technical Nigeria Limited and the programme’s training consultant, said participants would undergo theoretical sessions followed by practical industrial exposure at the company’s Trans-Amadi facility.
He noted that the curriculum emphasised creative problem-solving, teamwork, safety awareness, and ethical standards essential for the modern oil and gas sector.
The initiative forms part of HYPREP’s ongoing efforts to address both environmental and socio-economic challenges in Ogoniland, ensuring that local communities benefit from skill development and sustainable employment opportunities.
