The University of Port Harcourt has promoted the Director General of National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA), Dr. Innocent Barikor to a Professor of Political Economy and Development Studies.
His promotion came alongside that of 45 other staff of the institution.
In a statement, the Vice Chancellor of the Institution, Prof. Onwunari Georgewill disclosed that the promotion of 46 staff of the school was approved during the 187th meeting of the Governing Council, chaired by the Pro-Chancellor of the institution and Chairman, Sen. Mao Ohuabunwa.
Prof. Georgewill further stated that 30 senior academics were promoted to the rank of Professor, and 16 others to associate professor after undergoing the rigorous assessment process set up by the university.
Prof. Innocent Barikor assumed office as the Director General of NESREA in May last year.
Since he assumed office, Barikor has recorded remarkable progress in promoting environmental sustainability in the country.
Under his committed leadership, the Agency is vigorously implementing the Extended Producer Responsibility Programme in the Food and Beverage, Battery, Used Tyres, and Electrical/ Electronics sectors.
He championed the development of key legislations to promote environmental governance including , the National Environmental (Battery Control) Regulations 2024, the development of National Guidelines for the Implementation of EPR for (Plastic) Packaging, and The National Environmental (Plastic Waste Control) Regulations which is awaiting gazette.
Barikor among numerous achievements, also supervised the review of the National Environmental (Permitting and Licensing Systems) Regulations 2009; and the National Environmental (International Trade in Endangered Species of Fauna and Flora) Regulations 2011.
Under him, the agency carried out 1,671 compliance monitoring inspections/visits to various facilities and a total of 96 facilities shutdown for environmental infractions.
To achieve greater efficiency and take environmental governance close to the grassroots, he unbundled NESREA offices in key states of the federation.
With the support of the Fleming Fund, funded by UKAid , and implemented through Management Sciences for Health MSH and the Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO) he is equipping the National Reference Laboratory Port-Harcourt with State-of-the art equipment for environmental research and laboratory investigations and installation of a 30Kva solar power system designed to provide 24hrs power supply to the laboratory.
The agency in March this year, launched a National Industrial Decarbonisation Programme (NIDP) with the aim of tackling emissions from the industrial sector and other sources, and also hosted an International Conference on Upgrading the Lead-Battery Recycling Sector in the African Region, under the Partnership for Responsible Battery and Metal Recycling (PROBAMET).
He has provided the needed zeal and dedication to attract support from international partners such as the European Union, the United Nations Office on Drug and Crime, the German and Japanese Governments, African Center for Protection, and the Elephant Protection Initiative Foundation (EPIF).
