The Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project, HYPREP, trains one hundred Ogoni youths in seafaring, describing the initiative as part of its commitment to sustainable livelihoods and alignment with the Federal Government’s Blue Economy agenda.
Mediaplusng.com reports that the training focuses on skills development, maritime employment, and environmental protection in Ogoniland and the wider Niger Delta region.
The close-out ceremony for the trainees takes place at Charkin Maritime Academy in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, where beneficiaries complete an intensive four-month seafarers’ training programme under HYPREP’s Sustainable Livelihood Programme.
According to Mediaplusng.com, the initiative is designed to create alternative sources of income for Ogoni youths and reduce involvement in illegal activities that contribute to environmental degradation.
Four months earlier, the one hundred participants begin structured maritime training, covering global standards in seafaring, marine safety, vessel operations, and survival techniques at sea. The programme equips them with competencies required to work onboard ships in various capacities within Nigeria and internationally.
Inside the academy hall, the atmosphere reflects pride and optimism as the trainees emerge as certified seafarers. They receive practical instruction in maritime safety procedures, emergency response, navigation support, and onboard operational responsibilities.
With smiles and visible excitement, the graduates receive their certificates in the presence of dignitaries, stakeholders, and representatives from maritime institutions. The certification positions them for employment opportunities within the maritime industry, including shipping companies, offshore services, and marine logistics operations.
HYPREP’s Project Coordinator explains that the initiative supports the Federal Government’s Blue Economy strategy, which aims to harness ocean and marine resources for economic growth, job creation, and environmental sustainability.
He emphasizes that empowering Ogoni youths with internationally recognized maritime skills not only enhances employability but also addresses longstanding socio-economic challenges in the region. By expanding legitimate employment pathways, the programme seeks to discourage oil theft, artisanal refining, and activities that contribute to environmental pollution.
The Blue Economy framework prioritizes sustainable use of marine resources, fisheries development, shipping expansion, port efficiency, and coastal community empowerment. HYPREP states that integrating Ogoni youths into this national vision strengthens local participation in Nigeria’s maritime value chain.
A representative of the trainees describes the programme as transformative, expressing gratitude for the opportunity to acquire professional maritime training. She notes that the exposure broadens career horizons and offers a pathway to stable income and personal development.
Stakeholders at the ceremony include HYPREP directors, representatives of Renaissance Africa Energy Company, officials of Charkin Maritime Academy, and community leaders. Their presence underscores multi-sector collaboration in advancing youth empowerment and environmental restoration efforts in Ogoniland.
This latest graduation increases the total number of Ogoni youths trained under HYPREP’s specialized skills development programmes to two hundred and thirty. Prior to the seafaring training, one hundred youths complete training in Creative Arts, while thirty undergo Aviation training.
The expansion of high-demand skills programmes reflects a broader strategy aimed at economic diversification in the Niger Delta. By focusing on employability, entrepreneurship, and technical competence, HYPREP seeks to complement its environmental remediation mandate with sustainable human capital development.
The project indicates readiness to commence training in Mechatronics, while Phase Two of the Aviation programme continues. Additional training areas include Full-Stack Development, Cybersecurity, Geographic Information Systems, Remote Sensing, Commercial Diving, Industrial Welding, Solar Installation, and Agricultural Skill Enhancement.
Development analysts observe that combining environmental remediation with structured youth empowerment strengthens long-term stability in oil-producing communities. Equipping young people with competitive technical skills reduces economic vulnerability and promotes inclusive growth.
By linking environmental restoration efforts with job creation initiatives, HYPREP positions itself as both a remediation and socio-economic intervention platform within the Niger Delta.
The seafarers’ graduation ceremony not only celebrates personal achievement but also signals broader institutional alignment with Nigeria’s maritime growth strategy and sustainable development objectives.
Mediaplusng.com gathers that continued collaboration between federal agencies, training institutions, and private sector partners remains central to expanding employment pathways for young Nigerians.
The training of one hundred Ogoni youths in seafaring marks another milestone in HYPREP’s Sustainable Livelihood Programme and reinforces the Federal Government’s Blue Economy drive.
As newly certified seafarers prepare to enter the maritime workforce, stakeholders express optimism that the initiative will strengthen economic resilience, environmental protection, and long-term development in Ogoniland and beyond.
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