HYPREP Fights Crime In Ogoniland, Equips Youths With Vocational Skills
In a bid to mitigate crime among youths, the Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP) has equipped 390 Ogoni Students from 13 secondary schools with Entrepreneural and vocational skills.
HYPREP said the aim of the initiative was to positively engage the minds and hands of the students especially as they were embarking on the festive holidays.
The one-day programme which held at the Birabi Memorial Grammar School (BMGS), Bori, Khana Local Government Area with themed; “Career Coaching: Developing the Young Minds,” had the collaboration of the National Orientation Agency (NOA) and the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).
Speaking with newmen during the event, HYPREP’s Head of Livelihood and Sustainable Development, Josephine Nzidee, explained the purpose of the workshop was to positively engage the students and prevent them from from engaging in vices.
Nzidee added that the workshop also focused on career coaching and instilling core values in the minds of the youths.
She said, “This initiative will mitigate crime in this region, because this life skill will actually take the students’ minds off these things that make them commit crime, while their peers are out there trying to engage in negative activities, they will be busy making their petroleum jelly and liquid soap.
“We are also going to talk to them about entrepreneurship,
after the practical, how to keep their records, how to start their small businesses for them to earn their own income .
“We have start-ups for the 13 secondary schools that we have established our clubs, we have 30 students per school and we will be giving them their own start up as we are teaching them the skills, we will give them all the necessary tools.”
“We have 390 students from 13 schools, 30 students per school in Khana, Gokana, Eleme and Tai.”
Speaking further, Nzidee said, This programme is aimed at equipping students from Khana, Gokhana, Eleme, and Tai LGAs with essential life skills while sensitizing them about the dangers of drug abuse and the importance of discipline, tolerance, and respect for other ethnic groups and religion background.
“This initiative is designed to keep students occupied during the festive season to prevent them from engaging in vices. With the support of NOA and NDLEA, we are teaching them about life values, the dangers of drugs, and providing entrepreneurial skills such as making petroleum jelly and liquid soap. We believe these activities will keep their minds engaged and help them develop sustainable livelihoods.”
Also speaking at the workshop, the Rivers State Director of National Orientataion Agency, NOA, Young Ayo Tamuno, emphasized the importance of fostering national values and resilience among the youths.
He said, “This programme aligns with the National Values Charter, which promotes discipline, resilience, and sustainable development. By grooming these students now, we prepare them to face future challenges and contribute meaningfully to the country’s development.
“Today we are talking about sustainable development, Sustainable development is meant for the younger people, the future generations to come, so organising a programme like this, we brace the students for the future.”
Principal of BMGS, Bob Agbozi, in appreciation, lauded HYPREP for the workshop, saying it was all encompassing.
“Developing entrepreneurial skills in students is critical. What HYPREP is doing today combines practical skills with value orientation, which is essential for building well-rounded individuals” he said.
On her part, one of the beneficiaries, an SS3 student, Wilfred Kelvin, noted that the programme will further sharpen their minds and help them better care for their environment,
“This programme will help rehabilitate our behavior towards the environment and encourage us to care for it better.
“It’s inspiring and gives us practical tools to build our future.” Another student, Letombarisitom Peace, shared her excitement about learning soap-making skills, describing it as a dream come true.”
HYPREP Fights Crime In Ogoniland, Equips Youths With Vocational Skills is first published on The Whistler Newspaper
