Innocent Barikor

The University of Port Harcourt (UNIPORT) has promoted the Director General of the National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA), Innocent Barikor, to the rank of Professor of Political Economy and Development Studies.

Barikor’s elevation was part of a broader promotion exercise involving 45 other staff members of the institution. In a statement released on Wednesday, the university’s Vice-Chancellor, Onwunari Georgewill, announced that the promotions were approved during the institution’s 187th Governing Council meeting, chaired by Pro-Chancellor and Chairman, Mao Ohuabunwa.

According to the statement, 30 senior academics were promoted to the rank of professor, while 16 others advanced to associate professor after undergoing a rigorous assessment process.

Barikor, who assumed office as NESREA’s Director General in May 2024, has been instrumental in driving environmental sustainability initiatives in Nigeria. Under his leadership, the agency has actively implemented the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) Programme across multiple sectors, including food and beverage, battery, used tyres, and electrical/electronics industries.

He has also played a key role in developing vital environmental governance regulations, such as the National Environmental (Battery Control) Regulations 2024 and the National Guidelines for EPR Implementation for Plastic Packaging. Additionally, his tenure has seen the review of major environmental policies, increased compliance monitoring, and the shutdown of 96 non-compliant facilities.

To enhance environmental governance at the grassroots level, Barikor spearheaded the unbundling of NESREA offices across key states. His leadership has also attracted international collaborations, including support from the European Union, UKAid, and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, among others.

His recent appointment as a professor at UNIPORT further solidifies his contributions to both academia and environmental policy in Nigeria.