Port Harcourt, Nigeria – The University of Port Harcourt don promote the Director General of the National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA), Dr. Innocent Barikor, to the rank of Professor of Political Economy and Development Studies. This promotion happen on March 26, 2025, as part of the elevation of 46 other academic staff during the university’s 187th Governing Council meeting, wey Sen. Mao Ohuabunwa chair.
Vice Chancellor, Prof. Owunari Georgewill, confirm the news in one statement wey him release. He talk say 30 senior academics become full professors, while 16 others don rise to associate professor after passing through one intensive assessment process set by the university.
Dr. Barikor take up him role as Director General of NESREA for May 2023. Since him don take charge, him don make serious impact in environmental sustainability wey concern Nigeria. “Under my leadership, we dey push the Extended Producer Responsibility Programme for food and beverage, battery, used tyres, and electrical/electronics sectors,” him talk. “We dey work on new legislation to support environmental governance, wey include the National Environmental (Battery Control) Regulations 2024.”
Barikor also dey spearhead the review of several environmental regulations, including the National Environmental (Permitting and Licensing Systems) Regulations 2009 and the National Environmental (International Trade in Endangered Species of Fauna and Flora) Regulations 2011. For him tenure, NESREA carry out over 1,671 compliance monitoring inspections and shut down 96 facilities wey violate environmental laws.
To improve environmental governance for grassroots, him don separate NESREA offices for key states across Nigeria. “We dey expand our reach to ensure effective monitoring and enforcement,” he explain. Na with support from UKAid’s Fleming Fund and organizations like Management Sciences for Health and the Food and Agricultural Organization, dem dey equip the National Reference Laboratory in Port Harcourt with advanced equipment for environmental research.
In March 2025, NESREA launch the National Industrial Decarbonisation Programme to tackle carbon emissions from industries. The agency also organize international conference on lead-battery recycling for Africa, wey dey aim to upgrade the sector for better practices. Barikor don attract support from international partners, including the European Union, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, and other global organizations, to help in the fight for a better environment.
With dis new promotion, Barikor’s contributions to environmental policy and governance position am as a key figure in sustainable management for Nigeria. This recognition na testament to the work wey him don do in this critical sector.
