A call has been made for Ogoni youths to tell and amplify Ogoni stories accurately, following the completion of a four-month creative arts training program by the Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP).
The appeal came from Project Coordinator Prof. Nenibarini Zabbey at the closing ceremony of the training held at the University of Port Harcourt’s Theatre Arts Department, where 100 youths were equipped with skills in scriptwriting, film production, and make-up.
Zabbey emphasized that the training is part of HYPREP’s sustainable livelihood program aimed at empowering Ogoni youths with skills in the creative and entertainment industry, creating alternative income sources, and supporting community development.
He praised the trainees for producing four short films during the course, including Dirty Festival, which premiered at the event, along with Open Pain, Bomu, and Green War.
Zabbey encouraged participants to use their skills to promote civic responsibility, peace, and environmental sustainability while highlighting ongoing progress in implementing the UNEP Report recommendations.
Other speakers, including HYPREP officials and university representatives, applauded the initiative and urged the youths to maximize the opportunities provided.
With this cohort, HYPREP has trained a total of 230 Ogoni youths in high-demand skills, including seafaring and aviation, and plans to expand training into mechatronics, full-stack development, commercial diving, underwater welding, and GIS. Inclusive programs for Ogoni persons living with disabilities are also planned in fields such as fish farming, photography, fashion design, and shoemaking.
