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By Adewale Sanyaolu
NLNG says it has inducted a fresh cohort of 103 young entrepreneurs into its economic empowerment initiative, the Vocational Innovation Business and Empowerment Scheme (VIBES).
The induction according to the company marks another phase in the company’s effort to strengthen enterprise development in its host communities.
The induction ceremony, held in Port Harcourt recently, signalled a new chapter for the trainees, who will undergo intensive capacity-building sessions designed to equip them with the practical skills required to build and sustain viable businesses.
Under the programme, participants will receive training in financial management, marketing, business strategy, and basic legal principles. The sessions will culminate in a competitive pitching phase where participants will present their business ideas, with the most promising proposals selected for grant support based on defined evaluation criteria.
The event also marked the graduation of 26 beneficiaries from the previous cohort who successfully completed the programme after receiving grant support last year. Many of the graduates have since strengthened their business operations, improved financial management practices, and expanded their customer base.
Several of the businesses have progressed from early-stage ideas to more structured, revenue-generating ventures, with some participants scaling up production and diversifying their services, an outcome that underscores the programme’s impact on grassroots enterprise growth. Speaking at the ceremony, NLNG’s General Manager, External Relations and Sustainable Development, Sophia Horsfall, said the initiative reflects the company’s commitment to sustainable community development and inclusive economic growth.
According to her, the VIBES programme represents a strategic intervention aimed at empowering young entrepreneurs and strengthening local economies within NLNG’s host and pipeline communities.
“The VIBES programme reflects NLNG’s long-standing commitment to sustainable development in our host communities. Through targeted capacity building, access to innovative support, and enterprise development opportunities, we are strengthening the local economy across our host and pipeline communities,” she said.
Horsfall added that the transition of one cohort and the induction of another demonstrates the continuity of NLNG’s investment in youth empowerment, innovation, and enterprise development as drivers of sustainable growth.
Also speaking, the Manager, Community Relations and Sustainable Development, Yemi Adeyemi, described the milestone as a rewarding moment for the programme, noting the visible progress recorded by the graduating entrepreneurs. “When we supported them last year, it was not only with training but also with grants to help strengthen their businesses. A year later, we can see the difference, businesses are expanding, ideas have moved beyond the planning stage, and beneficiaries are more confident in managing their ventures,” he said.
The VIBES initiative is part of NLNG’s broader sustainable development strategy, which focuses on economic empowerment, education, infrastructure, and healthcare across its host and pipeline communities in Rivers State.
Through the programme, the company aims to nurture a new generation of entrepreneurs capable of building sustainable businesses, creating jobs, and contributing meaningfully to the economic growth of their communities.
Since the relaunch of the initiative, 26 participants have already benefited from grants and successfully completed their training under the programme, with the newly inducted cohort expected to follow a similar path toward enterprise development and economic independence.
