By Ken Meju
As focus shifts to the implementation of the Ogoni Clean up, Kebetkache, a women rights advocacy organisation has solicited media support for the success of the programme. Ms Emem Okon, executive director Kebetkache made the call August 10 at a media strategy meeting. Kebetkache is implementing “The Women Unite for the clean up of the Environment Project sponsored by the Catholic Organisation for Relief and Development Aid, CORDIAD and the focus is on providing an enabling environment for the emergency measures as well as the clean up of Ogoni land.
The organisation told journalists selected to push the media campaign that though activities are being put in place for the project, “It is evident that the level of awareness is still very low in Ogoni communities, Rivers State and the entire Niger Delta.”
It said there is need for the media to help correct existing misconceptions about the project through a programmed media advocacy. “Media advocacy is intended to improve and engender media coverage on the implementation of the emergency resources”
Issues of concern to Kebetkache which is working in partnership with other NGOs, is the engagement of women in the process through training on livelihood as contained in the UNEP Report as well as how the waste would be handled and how to dispose of the waste.
“Since clean up will soon commence, where will they dump the waste from the sites since HYPREP has shifted the idea of building the Integrated Soil Management Centre…. there should be advocacy on this regard,” Kebetkache highlighted.
The NGO also expressed concern over conflicting dates for the proper clean up from the ministry of Environment and HYPREP.
