Nigeria’s gas company, NLNG, has relaunched one of its key economic empowerment programme, formerly known as Youth Empowerment Scheme (YES), in a bid to spur the growth of small businesses and further empower youths within its over 110 host and pipeline communities in Rivers State.
Now known as Vocational, Innovation, Business, and Empowerment Scheme (VIBES), the scheme seeks to ensure the growth of small businesses owned and managed by previous YES beneficiaries.
Speaking at the relaunch event in Port Harcourt, NLNG’s General Manager, External Relations and Sustainable Development, Dr Sophia Horsfall said the company believes that entrepreneurship is not just about starting and running a business, but is also about “creating opportunities that uplift the communities to drive economic growth and spark positive social change.
“In line with NLNG’s vision of improving lives sustainably, VIBES is a deliberate programme to engender entrepreneurial knowledge, and the networks needed to grow entrepreneurs and change-makers in our communities.”
Over 1400 youths from NLNG’s host and pipeline communities in Rivers State had been trained in 10 different empowerment programmes since inception of YES in 2004, though less than 300 are said to be operating viable business till date.
The crafts they were trained include Automotive, Advanced welding, Catering and Hotel management, Fashion Designing and Cosmetology, Farm Management, Information and Communication Technology as well as Photography and Video Production.
Dr Horsfall who was represented at the event by the Manager, Community Relations and Sustainable Development, Charles Epelle said “We believe that VIBES will foster an environment where individuals can create businesses, generate employment, and become innovators. This belief drives our commitment to nurturing local capacity and enabling individuals to become creators of jobs, wealth, and lasting impact.”
She said the programme is a modern approach to economic empowerment and “offers enhanced support through networking opportunities, grants, resources, and mentorship to help participants refine and scale up their ideas.”
Our correspondent gathered that VIBES came into force last year as a way of refining the implementation of the company’s YES programme, which was initially designed to make the participating youths economically and socially responsible and self-reliant through guided technical and managerial development training.
A release by the Manager, Corporate Communication and Public Affairs, Anne-Marie Palmer-Ikuku, pointed out that in conceptualizing VIBES, NLNG assembled experts in entrepreneurship, business development, law, technology and innovations and several other fields for continued training and mentorship of the select business operators to ensure continued survival, growth and sustainability of such businesses.
“VIBES will provide comprehensive business training, which includes courses on financial management, marketing, strategic planning, law and legal practices and more. It shall also provide personalized advisory services and structured mentorship from seasoned business to the participants.
“Beneficiaries will be administered professional, practical, participative trainings designed to build robust technical and managerial capacity.
“Participants in the top 50 will receive a grant of $1,300 each, disbursed in two tranches. This funding is intended to help upscale their business and as part of a broader support system that includes mentorship, networking, and additional advisory services.
“In the end, The VIBES Alumni Network will be created and is designed to provide continued mentorship, networking, and support after the completion of the programme, helping past beneficiaries to share experiences and access further opportunities.
“Economic Empowerment is one of the four pillars of NLNG’s community development drive. Others are education, infrastructure development and healthcare,” the release said.
