The University of Port Harcourt has bestowed the esteemed title of Professor of Political Economy and Development Studies upon Innocent Barikor, the Director General of the National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA), in recognition of his significant academic and professional achievements. This promotion, alongside that of 45 other faculty members, was ratified during the 187th meeting of the University’s Governing Council, chaired by Pro-Chancellor Mao Ohuabunwa.
Vice Chancellor Onwunari Georgewill, in a formal statement, highlighted the rigorous evaluation process that led to the advancement of 30 senior academics to the rank of Professor and 16 to Associate Professor, including Barikor.
Barikor, who assumed leadership of NESREA in May 2024, has demonstrated exceptional commitment to advancing environmental sustainability in Nigeria. His tenure has been marked by the vigorous implementation of the Extended Producer Responsibility Programme across critical sectors, including Food and Beverage, Battery, Used Tyres, and Electrical/Electronics.
Under his guidance, NESREA has spearheaded the development of pivotal legislative frameworks, such as the National Environmental (Battery Control) Regulations 2024, the National Guidelines for the Implementation of EPR for (Plastic) Packaging, and the National Environmental (Plastic Waste Control) Regulations, currently pending gazettal.
Barikor’s achievements extend to the strategic review of existing 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. Furthermore, NESREA has significantly intensified its compliance monitoring, conducting 1,671 inspections and shutting down 96 facilities for environmental violations. In a move to decentralize environmental governance, he also strategically expanded the agency’s presence in key states.
His proactive approach has attracted significant international partnerships. With support from the Fleming Fund (UKAid), Management Sciences for Health (MSH), and the Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO), he is modernizing the National Reference Laboratory in Port Harcourt with cutting-edge equipment and a 30Kva solar power system.
NESREA, under Barikor’s leadership, launched the National Industrial Decarbonisation Programme to combat industrial emissions and hosted an international conference on upgrading the lead-battery recycling sector in Africa, in collaboration with the Partnership for Responsible Battery and Metal Recycling. He has also successfully cultivated relationships with international entities such as the European Union, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, the German and Japanese Governments, the African Center for Protection, and the Elephant Protection Initiative Foundation.
