The African Indigenous Foundation for Energy and Sustainable Development (AIFES), a civil society organization, has issued a call to the Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP) to commence the implementation of the recommended livelihood programme outlined in the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) report on the Ogoni environment.
AIFES emphasized that the execution of this livelihood initiative, particularly targeting the youth in Ogoniland, holds the potential to significantly curtail their involvement in illicit oil bunkering within the region.
Speaking in Port Harcourt during a gathering of key stakeholders, civil society organizations (CSOs), and community leaders to observe the 2023 Indigenous People’s Day, AIFES Executive Director Legborsi Pyagbara conveyed this message….CONTINUE READING
During the event, Pyagbara also urged the federal government to ratify Convention 169 and endorse the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. Furthermore, he advocated the establishment of a national action plan to effectively implement the United Nations’ declarations related to indigenous rights.
Pyagbara stated, “In 2007, Nigeria abstained from voting on the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples during debates at the UN General Assembly. Today, we seize the opportunity to call on the Nigerian government to ratify Convention 169 and the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.”
He also emphasized the necessity for the federal government to create centers dedicated to fostering inter-generational dialogues. These platforms would facilitate interactions between elders and young individuals, allowing traditional wisdom to be shared and passed down to the younger generations.
Pyagbara concluded, “Additionally, we advocate for the establishment of centers dedicated to promoting inter-generational dialogue. Without such dialogue, we risk losing the rich heritage of our communities. It is the elders who possess the knowledge to impart invaluable stories, especially rooted in traditional wisdom, to the younger generation.”
