Ogoni Hail Kinsman Appointment For Africa

Akanimo Sampson

Ogoni Hail Kinsman Appointment For Africa

OGONI mass organisation, Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People (MOSOP), says their kinsmen at home and in the Diaspora gladly salute the appointment of their International Advocacy Officer, Mr.Legborsi Saro Pyagbara as the new Indigenous Peoples Focal Point representing Indigenous Peoples of Africa on the Coordinating Committee of the Global Environment Facility (GEF)-NGO Council.

MOSOP Information Officer, Mr. Bari-ara Kpalap, who made this known in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital, on Monday, said Pyagbara replaces Ms. Lucy Mulenkei of the Kenyan-based Indigenous Information Network, whose tenure expired last December, 2009. Mr. Pyagbara’s tenure elapses in 2013.

Mr. Pyagbara, according to to Mr. Kpalap, was appointed in recognition of his resolute dedication to indigenous peoples’ issues in Africa and the world over including his long standing commitment and strong advocacy for the protection of the environment and by extension humanity.

In his acceptance speech, Mr.Pyagbara thanked Indigenous peoples of Africa for reposing confidence in him and providing him with the opportunity to serve GEF and Africa in that capacity especially this crucial period in world history when we are faced by the challenges of climate change and the energy crisis all of which are having serious impacts on the environment and amongst indigenous peoples.

“We see the appointment of our International Advocacy Officer as recognition of his consistency and enormous contributions to the struggle for a better environment and for the basic rights and fundamental freedoms of Indigenous peoples and other oppressed groups in the world. We wish him a successful term in office, Mr.Ledum Mitee, the President of MOSOP said today in Port Harcourt.”

Mr. Pyagbara is currently serving on several other organizations locally and internationally some of which include, board member, International Network on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights(ESCR-NET),member, Steering Committee, Corporate Accountability Working Group, Deputy Representative, International Indigenous Peoples of Africa Coordinating Committee(IPACC),member, Coordinating Committee, African Indigenous Peoples and Climate Change Network, West African Coordinator, International Indigenous Forum on Biodiversity, National Coordinator, Niger Delta UPR Coalition, member, Steering Committee, Global Coalition on Indigenous Peoples and Extractive Industries

Established in 1991, the GEF is today the largest funder of projects to improve the global environment. The Global Environment Facility (GEF) is an independent financial organization, the GEF provides grants to developing countries for projects that benefit the global environment and promote sustainable livelihoods in local communities. The GEF give grants for projects addressing the six recognized complex global environmental issues in the world including Biodiversity, Climate Change, International Waters, Land Degradation, The Ozone Layer and Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs).These projects benefit the global environment, linking local, national, and global environmental challenges and promoting sustainable livelihoods

ENDS