In a significant boost to education in the Niger Delta, the Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP) has awarded N200 million in scholarships to 300 Ogoni postgraduate students as part of its commitment to human capital development in the region.
The scholarship, aimed at empowering young Ogonis through education, is a key component of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) recommendations for the cleanup and rehabilitation of Ogoniland. HYPREP, which oversees the implementation of these recommendations, emphasized that investing in education is crucial for sustainable development.
Speaking at the award ceremony, HYPREP’s Project Coordinator, expressed confidence that the scholarship program would equip beneficiaries with the skills needed to contribute meaningfully to Ogoniland’s development.
“This scholarship is not just about financial support; it is about building the future of Ogoni. We are investing in the intellectual capacity of our people so they can drive sustainable development in the region,” he stated.
The beneficiaries, drawn from various postgraduate disciplines, expressed gratitude for the opportunity, describing it as a life-changing intervention. One of the recipients, an MSc student in Environmental Management, lauded HYPREP’s commitment to education and pledged to use the knowledge gained to address environmental challenges in Ogoniland.
“The support from HYPREP is timely. It gives us the opportunity to further our education and contribute towards the restoration of our land,” the student said.
HYPREP’s scholarship initiative aligns with its broader mission of environmental restoration and socio-economic empowerment in Ogoniland. Beyond cleanup efforts, the project has been actively involved in providing livelihood programs, skills acquisition training, and infrastructural development.
With this latest intervention, stakeholders hope that the Ogoni people will not only benefit from environmental remediation but also from long-term educational and economic opportunities that will secure the future of the region.
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