UPDATE AND PUBLIC NOTICE/MEDIA STATEMENT ON “INVITATION TO MODULAR REFINERY INVESTORS’ WORKSHOP WITH FOREIGN TECHNICAL PARTNERS AND REQUEST FOR COLLABORATION/ SPONSORSHIP”

The publication on May 4, 2021 by Youths and Environmental Advocacy Centre (YEAC) signed by its Executive Director, Fyneface Dumnamene Fyneface inviting interested participants to Modular Refinery Investors’ Workshop and that “From Monday, May 31, 2021, YEAC will start contacting the interested participants to give information about the date, time and venue of the workshop in their respective States holding in the month of June, 2021” refers.

We thank all those who have indicated interest for partnership, supported and made donations towards the organization of the investors’ workshop so far. We particularly thank interested participants in Rivers State for the massive response among other States.

To this date, we have done media and correspondences for invitations and create awareness through jingles that also aired on TODAY, 95.1FM, Rhythm 93.7FM and live appearance on ViewPoint on RHYTHM, 93.7FM on Saturday, May 22, 2021 among others. However, the total number of persons who have indicated interest to participate in the investors’ workshop to date is still below the expected minimum quota of 60 needed for the workshop to hold. Besides, some intending participants, leadership structures and stakeholders in Akwa-Ibom, Bayelsa, Delta, Edo and Rivers States among others are requesting for more time to enable them put their houses together before the workshop holds.

It is against these brief backgrounds that Advocacy Centre hereby announces and communicates the postponement of the Modular Refinery Investors’ Workshop earlier scheduled to hold this June 2021 by one Month. This decision is to enable us have more time for publicity and accommodate the interest of those across the Niger Delta who wish to participate and requesting for more time for preparation. A new decision on the workshop would be communicated to you and the general public as from Thursday, July 1, 2021.

As a program we are collaborating and organizing as a non-profit organization to address environmental challenges associated with activities of artisanal crude oil refiners in the Niger Delta by facilitating resource mobilization from both local and international organizations and individuals for investment into Modular Refineries as alternative livelihoods opportunities for artisanal refiners in our energy transition program circle while mainstreaming renewable energy; a definite decision on the workshop would be collectively taken by July 1 based on action and inaction as responses from stakeholders.

By July 1, we could predict that our final decision will hover around these two issues;

1. Either to go ahead with the workshop if the total minimum number of participants needed in all the States indicate interest or

2. Call off the Modular Refinery Investors’ Workshop with Foreign Technical Partners and return the donations so far received to the donating organizations and individuals, believing that artisanal refiners and some stakeholders in the Niger Delta do not need foreign funding support to address this problem and related issues in the region.

Interested participants and sponsors can send their support/donation to us through Account Name: Youths and Envt. Advocacy Centre; Account Number: 1015421240 with Zenith Bank before the new deadline of July 1, 2021 and text his/her full name, sex, donated amount, State of Residence and email address to 081-8444-2989 or e-mail the details to info@centreadvocacy.org.

For more enquires and more information, contact us or visit www.centreadvocacy.org

Signed;

FYNEFACE DUMNAMENE FYNEFACE,
Executive Director, Youths and Environmental Advocacy Centre and Regional Facilitator,
Platform for the Coordination of Niger Delta Artisanal Refiners for Modular Refineries.
June 3, 2021