The Project Coordination Office of the Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP) said it is forging ahead with its mission to restore and revitalise communities impacted by hydrocarbon pollution, with a primary focus on the Ogoniland in Rivers State. It has, however, discovered that it may be a difficult task to accomplish, if foreign countries and institutions are not there to give support.
To get that international support, HYPREP’s Project Coordinator, Prof. Nenibarini Zabbey, has started to appeal to countries and institutions for this purpose. Towards this end, the project coordinator recently visited the Australian High Commission in Abuja to establish a strategic partnership between HYPREP and Australia.
The collaboration, according to Zabbey, aimed to advance innovation, education, and environmental protection, aligning with HYPREP’s goals.
He noted that as HYPREP completes its Centre of Excellence for Environmental Restoration, international partnerships will facilitate knowledge exchange, research, and sustainable environmental management.
In his remarks, Mr. Calum Walker, Political Officer at the Australian High Commission, praised Prof. Zabbey’s efforts in Ogoniland and confirmed Australia’s interest in collaborating with HYPREP.
He pointed out that the partnership will enable the sharing of expertise, technology, and best practices in environmental remediation.
By partnering with Australia, some stakeholders noted that HYPREP strengthens its commitment to environmental stewardship and community empowerment.
Meanwhile, Key Areas of Collaboration include: Innovation by Leveraging cutting-edge technologies for environmental remediation; Education: by Enhancing vocational skill acquisition and environmental awareness; and Environmental Protection, through Promoting sustainable practices and research.