The Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Programme (HYPREP) has warned beneficiaries of its skills training and empowerment programme for Ogoni Persons Living with Disabilities (OPLWDs) against selling the starter packs it provided.
The Project Coordinator Prof. Nenibarini Zabbey gave the warning at the graduation and empowerment ceremony for 120 persons with special needs in Bori over the weekend.
Zabbey said the items were provided to help the beneficiaries become self-reliant achieve financial independence and reduce the financial burden on their families.
He warned that selling the starter packs would betray the trust HYPREP and OPLWD leadership placed in them and disappoint their families and society.
‘Let me based on experience warn against the sale of starter packs’ he said.
The project coordinator assured the beneficiaries that HYPREP would continue to monitor their progress after graduation and provide support to help them overcome marketplace challenges.
‘We will continue to listen to you to understand the challenges you face in the market so that we will be able to support you in overcoming those challenges’ he said.
‘We would like to see the benefit of this training in your life and businesses as HYPREP has recently instituted a post-training tracking mechanism to monitor progress.
‘On this note I strongly advise that nobody should sell any of these starter packs and mobility items we’re giving to you to enhance your businesses and lives to be able to support your families to contribute to the ongoing transformation of the Ogoni Environment and livelihood.
‘Doing so will lead to blacklisting this important community and I know I am sure and I can bet that none of you will sell what we have given to you because when I visited the training facility I was very excited; I slept very well because I saw the enthusiasm; I saw determination and resilience; and like HYPREP I am sure you were looking forward to this important day so I charge all of you to utilise all the important devices we have given you today maximally for your personal benefits and for your families.’
He said at least 300 Special Needs persons were trained in five skills the Association selected. Still he said the 120 who graduated were trained in Photography and Fashion and Designing adding that others trained in Basic Computer Fish farming and shoe making would graduate and be empowered soon.
‘For the people living with special needs we agreed with their leaders to train 300 of them in five key skills which they chose by themselves and not HYPREP which are fashion designing shoe making Basic computer training fish farming and Photography.
‘Today we’re graduating 120 of the members who have trained in Photography and Fashion Design.
‘In the coming weeks we will graduate the remaining 180 others in Shoe making Basic Computer training and fish farming.
‘We’re not just graduating them after the training; we’re giving them Starter packs so they can become financially independent begin to contribute to their families and to Ogoni’s economic rebirth.
‘This is because if they continue to depend on members of their families the pressure on the families will be unbearable but after today these 120 people we’re graduating will have the opportunity to contribute to their families’ and personal welfare without depending on anybody.
‘We’re not just giving them Starter packs in the areas they were trained; we’re also providing them with assistive devices to enable them to operate the starter packs easily. For those who cannot walk we’re giving them wheelchairs; for those who need sticks crutches guide canes hearing aids or prosthetic legs we’re providing for all of them.
‘With these assistive items we’re sure that they will be able to navigate their communities and run their businesses with dignity.
‘This achievement is a product of dialogue patience partnership and resilience’ Zabbey said
He encouraged them to form clusters and cooperatives so they could stay together interact and support one another’s businesses and grow together.