As follow up of the meeting between officials of the Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP), other key stakeholders and implementing partners of this project, particularly, on collaborative monitoring of the execution of the water project currently undertaken by HYPREP in Ogoni communities, there was further engagements and advocacy meetings where HYPREP and others were in attendance.
The purpose of the meeting was to understand HYPREP Key Performance Indicator (KPI) of the project for monitors to be properly informed and guided during the exercise in the communities. Knowing and understanding what to monitor was necessary, hence the need for HYPREP to disclose its KPI to the field monitors before embarking on the exercise.
The implementing partners are committed to working with other CSOs and relevant stakeholders to making sure that the water provision in Ogoni communities becomes a success in the shortest possible time.
During the meeting, HYPREP which was represented by a team of most relevant officials, led by the Head, Monitoring and Evaluation, Dr. Sampson Ebimaro, made a presentation of the Key Performance Indicators (KPI) on the Ogoni water project. Other members of the team were Mr. Lucky Ikue, Team Lead, Portable Water and the HYPREP Community Liaison Officers representing Gokana, Khana and Tai Local Government Areas. Dr. Tambeke Gbarakoro, Dr. Gentle Komii and Dr. Franklin Tanee (Associate Professor), represented the Ogoni Environmental Professionals (OEP). Others were members of the Civil Society
Organizations and the Media.
ADVOCACY VISIT TO HYPREP
On the 9 th July 2021, an advocacy visit was made to some key officials of the Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP), which is the government agency coordinating the Ogoni cleanup. The purpose of the visit was to create a level playing ground for the project implementing organizations and HYPREP, and to be acquainted with the water project implementing plan. It was also to know if there is a key performance indicator on the water project, as well as discussing the possibility of collaboration with them on monitoring the process of the implementation of the water project.
The meeting which took place in HYPREP office had in attendance the Head, Monitoring and Evaluation of HYPREP, Dr. Sampson Ebimaro and Mr. Richard Mkpee, HYPREP Team Lead, Portable water, Mr. Lucky Ikue and Caroline Ganabel, other participants includes; Ms. Emem Okon, Ms. Nelly Umoren,
Ms. Mercy Akaninyene, Mr. Sunny Zorvah and Mr. Anthony Aalo.
During the visit to HYPREP office in Port Harcourt, we were able to establish good
relationship that was based on trust and confidence; we were able to have in-depth discussions and presentation of some of the key issues and fears of the rural communities on the HYPREP activities in Ogoni.
COMMUNITY STAKEHOLDERS CAPACITY BUILDING TRAINING
The Ogoni clean-up is expected to set the pace as a model for the larger Niger Delta environment clean-up. Kallop Humanitarian and Environmental Centre and Kebetkache Women Development and Resource Centre in recognition of the importance of the environment, its ecosystem and other biodiversity have organized a training session for the community stakeholders on the different phases of the Ogoni clean-up process.
As part of project activities on Strengthening Community Participation and Capacity Building on the Ogoni Clean-up Process, The project was conceived as a result of issues arising from our engagement with the community members on the activities of HYPREP and the clean-up contractors.
The participants of the training were drawn from oil bearing communities in the four (4) Ogoni local governments of Ogoni, civil society organizations (CSO’s) and the media. The training was organized to build the capacity of community members on what to expect from the Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP) and clean-up contractors on sites.
