Mkpoikana Udoma
Port Harcourt — Nigeria LNG Limited has reintroduced one of its key economic empowerment initiatives, announcing enhanced business assistance along with $1,300 grants for each of 50 small businesses and youth-run ventures throughout over 110 host and pipeline communities in Rivers State.
Previously called the Youth Empowerment Scheme (YES), this program has now been renamed the Vocational, Innovation, Business, and Empowerment Scheme (VIBES). Its aim is to expand upon the successes of YES by fostering the long-term viability and expansion of enterprises run by former participants.
At the relaunch ceremony in Port Harcourt, Dr. Sophia Horsfall, who serves as the General Manager for ExternalRelations and Sustainable Development, stated that this program embodies NLNG's enduring commitment to transforming communities via entrepreneurship.
According to Horsfall, NLNG holds the view that entrepreneurship goes beyond merely establishing and managing a company; it involves generating chances for community betterment aimed at fostering economic development and instigating favorable societal transformation.
"In alignment with NLNG’s mission to enhance sustainable living, VIBES is an intentional initiative aimed at fostering entrepreneurial skills and building the necessary networks to develop business leaders and innovators within our communities," she stated additionally.
Since launching in 2004, the YES program has provided training for more than 1,400 young individuals across various vocational areas such as Automotive Engineering, Advanced Welding, Hospitality and Culinary Arts, Fashion Design, Beauty Care, Agricultural Management, Information Communication Technology (ICT), and Photography & Videography.
Nevertheless, only about 300 of these trained entrepreneurs are presently running sustainable enterprises—a void that the VIBES program aims to fill via focused assistance, financing, and guidance.
Dr. Horsfall, who was represented at the event by Charles Epelle, the Manager of Community Relations and Sustainable Development, highlighted that the relaunch aimed to update empowerment approaches.
We think that VIBES will cultivate a setting where people have the opportunity to start companies, produce job opportunities, and emerge as innovators. This conviction fuels our dedication to developing local capabilities and empowering individuals to be generators of employment, prosperity, and enduring influence.
He went on to say that VIBES provides a modern approach with "improved assistance via networking chances, funding, tools, and guidance aimed at helping contributors enhance and expand their concepts."
He stated, "When developing VIBES, NLNG brought together specialists from various domains including entrepreneurship, business development, legal matters, technological advancements, and innovative practices. These professionals were engaged for ongoing education and guidance of chosen business owners with the aim of ensuring these enterprises could sustain themselves, expand, and thrive over time."
VIBES will offer extensive business training encompassing courses on financial management, marketing, strategic planning, law and legal practices, among others. Additionally, it will supply tailored advisory services along with organized mentoring from experienced professionals for the participants.
Beneficiaries will receive professional, hands-on, interactive training aimed at developing strong technical and management skills.
The top 50 participants will be awarded grants of $1,300 each, paid out in two installments. These funds aim to assist them in expanding their businesses and are part of an extensive support network that also encompasses mentoring, networking opportunities, and further consulting services.
Ultimately, the VIBES Alumni Network will be established with the aim of offering ongoing mentoring, networking, and support following the program’s conclusion. This network will facilitate shared experiences among former participants and help them gain access to additional opportunities.
Economic empowerment stands as one of the four key pillars of NLNG's community development initiative. The others include education, infrastructure development, and healthcare.