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| Photo shows presentation of a ₦250 million cheque to 51 beneficiaries of the NLNG-sponsored Vocational Innovation and Business Empowerment Scheme (VIBES) at the closing ceremony in Port Harcourt ... today, April 15, 2026 |
Nigeria LNG (NLNG) has empowered 51 innovative entrepreneurs with a whopping ₦250 million in business grants, capping off its thrilling 2026 Vocational Innovation and Business Empowerment Scheme (VIBES).
The program kicked off with 103 participants from NLNG’s host communities in Rivers State. It climaxed in a high-stakes pitch-a-thon, where finalists pitched bold business ideas and funding needs to an expert panel of judges.
Winners were chosen for the strongest proposals - those with real viability, scalability, and long-term sustainability.
This initiative highlights NLNG’s commitment to fostering homegrown talent and economic growth in local communities.
Speaking at the event, NLNG’s General Manager, External Relations and Sustainable Development, Sophia Horsfall, said the grant component of VIBES is designed to ensure that participants are not left with just training, but are supported to take the next practical step in establishing their businesses.
“What we are doing with this funding is bridging the gap between learning and execution. Many small businesses struggle at that stage where they have the knowledge but lack the capital to move forward. Through VIBES, we are providing targeted support to help these entrepreneurs implement their ideas, stabilise their operations, and position their businesses for growth,” she said.
Horsfall added that the initiative reflects NLNG’s broader approach to sustainable community development, noting that combining capacity building with access to funding enables beneficiaries to make measurable progress, strengthen their businesses, and create real economic value within their communities. “It is about providing sustainable livelihoods”, she said.
In his remark, Manager, Community Relations and Sustainable Development, Yemi Adeyemi, commended participants for their dedication throughout the programme and the quality of ideas presented during the pitch-a-thon.
He noted that the funding is intended to provide critical growth capital to enable beneficiaries expand operations, improve productivity, create jobs, and strengthen their market position.
He thanked all participants for their commitment and reaffirmed NLNG’s continued investment in enterprise development, and support for initiatives that build local capacity, promote entrepreneurship, and create sustainable economic opportunities in its host communities.
The pitch-a-thon marked the culmination of a four-week intensive business capacity-building programme, during which participants were equipped with practical skills in financial management, business strategy, marketing, and operations to strengthen their enterprises, a press release signed by Anne-Marie Palmer-Ikuku
NLNG’s Manager, Corporate Communication and Public Affairs, says.
It explains that the programme, built on innovation, scalability, and sustainability, reinforces NLNG’s commitment to inclusive economic development, integrating capacity building with funding to help entrepreneurs grow, sustain their businesses, and drive long-term impact.
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