Rivers: NLNG Launches VIBES As Economic Empowerment Strategy

NLNG has relaunched one of its key economic empowerment programmes formerly known as Youth Empowerment Scheme (YES) as a way of spurring the growth of small businesses and youths within its over 110 host and pipeline communities in Rivers State.

The new scheme, now known as VIBES, is to ensure growth and sustainability of small businesses owned and managed by previous YES beneficiaries.

Speaking at the relaunch event in Port Harcourt, Dr Sophia Horsfall, general manager of external relations and sustainable development, said VIBES stands for Vocational, Innovation, Business, and Empowerment Scheme.

Horsfall said, “NLNG believes that entrepreneurship is not just about starting and running a business, it is 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 1,400 youths from NLNG’s host and pipeline communities in Rivers state have been trained in 10 different empowerment programmes since the inception of YES in 2004, though less than 300 are said to be operating viable businesses to date.

The crafts 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.

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.”

Speaking further, she said the programme is a modern approach to economic empowerment which “offers enhanced support through networking opportunities, grants, resources, and mentorship to help participants refine and scale up their ideas.”

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.

In conceptualising 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.