By Mashe Umaru Gwamna
The Centre of Excellence for Environmental Restoration (CEER) and Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP) are collaborating with crcCARE, University of Newcastle, Australia, to strengthen partnership to enhance their capabilities in multidisciplinary research and training in environmental remediation.
Project Coordinator, Professor Nenibarini Zabbey, made this known during the visit of the CEO & Managing Director, crcCARE, University of Newcastle, Australia, Distinguished Laureate Professor Ravi Naidu, to the Centre of Excellence in Wiiyaakaara, Khana LGA,recently.
Prof Zabbey said the partnership is borne out of the fact that Ogoni Clean-up is a novel in the region . “The Project is developing a template for the cleanup of the Niger Delta and Nigeria as such requires partnership with highly reputable key global industry players for its sustainability”.
He explained that the visit to CEER and the project site in Nsisionke, Ogale, Eleme by Laureate Prof. Ravi, is strategic, motivating, and deserving of celebration, given the towering pedigree of the visitor and the Centre.”
He further explained that crcCARE has a centre that is functional and “we want to replicate same functional centre here in (CEER) Ogoniland.
“This will serve as a hub for multidisciplinary cutting-edge innovative research in environmental remediation and also serve as a functional centre for the training of youths-building their capacity in different demand driven skill areas and that will help create jobs for the youths and women of this region. It will also help to reduce conflict and agitation in the region”.
The Project coordinator added that the partnership with crcCARE is spanning into the high-risk complex site remediation project where they will be helping to characterize and drive the site remediation accordingly.
He also thanked Professor Ravi for his contributions, development of remediation technologies, including the Permeable Reactive Barriers-one of the technologies that would be deployed in the remediation of high-risk complex sites which was developed by one of his mentees.
He noted that HYPRREP is committed to deploying the best technology in the cleanup of high risk complex sites in Ogoni.
The CEO & Managing Director, crcCARE, University of Newcastle, Australia, Distinguished Laureate Professor Ravi Naidu, specifically mentioned that crcCARE will be partnering with HYPREP and CEER in the areas of assessment, site characterization, cleanup and trainings.
Meanwhile, crcCARE, University of Newcastle, Australia is a leading environmental remediation research center.
