by: Josiah Egbilika
Senior Advocacy and Communication Officer, CEHRD
Members from the Multi-Disciplinary Research Team, Rivers State University paid a courtesy visit to the Centre for Environment, Human Rights and Development (CEHRD). The purpose for the visit is to seek collaboration that can aid the team from Rivers State University (RSU) access resource grants and carry out developmental research stripes judiciously.
The Rivers State University multi-disciplinary research team lead, Prof. Warebi Brisibe in an interview with the communication officer, Mr. Josiah Egbilika at the sideline of the visit stated that, the team needs a credible Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) who has advocated for environment and rights to partner with, and CEHRD fits exactly into what they are seeking for.
According to him, CEHRD’s works in the pasts distinguish her from other NGOs.
“There’s no bigger NGO than this one (CEHRD). This is the biggest one we know and this is one of the most outstanding in terms of their efforts and we are really happy to be here” Mr. Brisibe stated.
Earlier, the coordinator of CEHRD, Dr. Nubari Nabie said that the partnership is a welcome idea and that CEHRD is open to any form of collaboration that seeks to develop the society.
Dr. Nabie stated that CEHRD records over the years and now speak for itself. He pointed that CEHRD has achieved remarkable successes advocating for environment, human rights and health. The coordinator revealed that CEHRD was the NGO that ensured Bodo community in Gokana Local Government Area, Rivers State, Nigeria got compensated for the pollution caused by Shell Nigeria and their environment remediated.
He further revealed that CEHRD has been a forefront organization to the remediation process in Ogoni. Furthermore, Dr. Nabie stated that CEHRD was a frontliner of advocacy that ensured that the Violence Against Person’s Prohibition Act was passed into law in Rivers and Bayelsa States.
The coordinated also reviewed that CEHRD is at the forefront to ensure the VAPP Law is properly implemented stating that CEHRD is the first, if not the only organization in Rivers State that has produced an abridged info-graphics version of the Rivers State VAPP law for easy understanding and awareness creation, among other achievements.
Dr. Nabie who expressed joy mentioned that having a renowned academic institution as Rivers State University as a partner is not only a good thing but speaks volumes that CEHRD’s efforts towards developing the society is noticed.
The coordinator of CEHRD looked forward towards a robust collaboration with Rivers State University. The courtesy call visit had in attendance 3 representatives from the Rivers State University multi-disciplinary research team, the head of Finance/admin from CEHRD, Mrs Nnenna Okoroji, Head of Programmes, Mr. Steve Obodokwe, Head of Human rights, Environment and Health departments, and selected programme officers of CEHRD.
