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| Photo shows Manager, Community Relations and Sustainable Development Charles Epelle, (4th left) and other officials during the Launch of NLNG VIBES in Port Harcourt, Monday, April 28, 2025 |
Nigeria LNG Limited (NLNG) has relaunched its flagship economic empowerment program, formerly known as the Youth Empowerment Scheme (YES), now rebranded as the Vocational, Innovation, Business and Empowerment Scheme (VIBES).
This initiative aims to accelerate the growth of small businesses and empower youths across NLNG’s more than 110 host and pipeline communities in Rivers State.
VIBES is designed to foster sustainable economic development by equipping young entrepreneurs with vocational skills, business training, and access to financial support.
The program builds on the success of YES, providing the youths with technical and managerial training in areas such as photography, ICT, fashion design, welding, and horticulture.
Speaking at the relaunch event in Port Harcourt, General Manager, External Relations and Sustainable Development, Dr Sophia 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 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 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.”
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.
A press release signed by Anne-Marie Palmer-Ikuku, Manager, Corporate Communication and Public Affairs, also states 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, it said, 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, Newsmart gathered, 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, according to the press release, 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, it also explains, is one of the four pillars of NLNG’s community development drive. Others are education, infrastructure development and healthcare.
NLNG’s renewed commitment through VIBES reflects its corporate vision to become a globally competitive energy firm that enhances lives sustainably, empowering local economies by transforming youths from job seekers into job creators.
This relaunch marks a strategic evolution in NLNG’s community development efforts, emphasizing innovation, entrepreneurship, and financial independence to drive lasting socio-economic impact in Rivers State and beyond
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