HYPREP Empowers 100 Creative Arts Trainees To Amplify Ogoni Story

CHIDI UGWU

No fewer than 100 Ogoni youths, who recently completed a four-month Creative Arts training program under the Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP), have been encouraged to utilize their newly acquired skills to effectively tell and amplify the Ogoni story.

The beneficiaries were handed down the charge during the closing ceremony of the programme which held at the Theatre Arts Department, University of Port Harcourt.

Speaking at the occasion, Professor Nenibarini Zabbey, Project Coordinator of HYPREP, highlighted the significance of this initiative as an integral part of HYPREP’s wider sustainable livelihood efforts.

The training encompassed Script Writing, Film Production, and Make-up, designed to equip Ogoni youths with high-demand skills that are relevant to the flourishing creative arts and entertainment sectors.

Professor Zabbey described the program as a strategic intervention aimed at creating alternative livelihood opportunities and empowering young people across Ogoni communities.

“This training is a deliberate step to empower young people who aspire to make their mark in the creative and entertainment industries,” Zabbey stated.

He urged the beneficiaries not only to build careers with their skills but also to promote civic responsibility, peace, and environmental stewardship through their creative platforms.

He challenged them to ensure that “Ogoni is heard in the right way,” advocating positively for HYPREP and showcasing the progress made in implementing the UNEP recommendations.

Throughout the program, the trainees produced four short films, including “Dirty Festival,” which premiered at the event, alongside “Open Pain,” “Bomu,” and “Green War.”

The Project Coordinator praised these works, describing the training as a launchpad for the youths to become entrepreneurs and create new opportunities for themselves and their communities.

Other dignitaries at the event—such as Professor Damian-Paul Aguiyi, Director of Technical Services at HYPREP; Dr. Ovunda Ihunwo, Head of the Theatre Arts Department at the University of Port Harcourt; Chief Douglas Experience from Halibiz Consult Ltd; and Mrs. Josephine Nzidee, Head of Sustainable Livelihood at HYPREP—commended the initiative and encouraged the trainees to make the most of the opportunity.

Certificates of participation were presented to the trainees as the program concluded. This group of 100 trainees forms part of HYPREP’s larger commitment to capacity building, with a total of 230 Ogoni youths already trained in high-demand skills such as seafaring and aviation.

Upcoming training programs will expand into areas including Mechatronics, Full-Stack Development, Commercial Diving, Underwater Welding, Geographic Information Systems (GIS), as well as specialized skill sets tailored for Ogoni Persons Living with Disabilities, such as fish farming, basic computer skills, photography, fashion design, and shoemaking.

Through these initiatives, HYPREP remains firmly committed to inclusivity, empowerment, and the socio-economic transformation of the Ogoni people.

The Creative Arts training represents a crucial effort to establish an “Ogoniwood” presence within the Nigerian film and entertainment industry, placing Ogoni culture and stories prominently before national and international audiences.

HYPREP’s strategic partnership with the esteemed Theatre Arts Department of the University of Port Harcourt and industry experts guarantees high-quality training, nurturing talent and elevating the creative potential of Ogoni youths for years to come.