Port Harcourt—The lawmaker representing Ahoada West Constituency in the Rivers State House of Assembly, Hon. Sokari Goodboy Sokari, on Tuesday, embarked on a “One-Day Environment and Development Management Workshop” in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital.
Mangrovepen.ng gathered that the purpose of the workshop is to create awareness, prepare and build the capacity of participants from the 12 wards of Ahoada West Local Government Area to assist the Environment and Development Management Committee inaugurated weeks ago to tackle environmental challenges bedeviling the area.
Confidence Amagbo, special adviser to Sokari quoted the lawmaker as saying the workshop was primarily to prepare against seasonal flooding, noting that the environmental committee was constituted to mitigate the impact caused by many years of environmental degradation as well as perennial flooding.
“In recent times, we see flooding that sacks us from our homes and most of these houses were built many years ago and are not too strong. When the flood comes, within a year or two we are having so many dilapidated buildings and no resources to build strong and befitting houses that will stand the test of time.
“So, in my own way of trying to help the people of Ahoada West Constituency, I have decided with some persons around me, to set up Environmental Committee.
“Because of what we intend to achieve for our people in the short-term, mid-term and long-term, we felt it is necessary to organize this workshop to train you on the role you have to play towards achieving that goal,” the lawmaker said.
Earlier, one of the resource persons, Mr. Prince Ogbobula Joseph, while making a presentation, said the objective of the workshop is to mobilize awareness of environmental sustainability and protection as well as environmental management capability and health risk assessment.
According to Prince, the workshop will not only offer huge opportunities for people to meet, interact and exchange ideas but will also help to identify what needs to be done to mitigate the impact of environmental degradation particularly in Ahoada West and Rivers State at large.
He stated that the workshop will also facilitate development and address the reforms needed to significantly drive the growth of the economy of the constituency, create jobs and generate wealth for the ever-growing population.
Also speaking on Health Risk Assessment, a health specialist, Mr. Joe Amachree, advised trainees to prioritize their health by shunning risky habits that will make them fall sick.
