NLNG, the International Gas Company of Nigeria, has granted a subsidy of N140 million to 28 small -scale micro companies that operate in its host communities in the state of Rivers.
The 28 companies, largely owned by young people of twenty years, five living with disabilities, benefited from N5 million each of the total subsidy.
The initiative, which was part of the vocational scheme (Vibes) of the gas company, had a total of 70 of these entrepreneurs to participate in a four -week business ideas launch contest and a selection process that ended on May 23, 2025 in Port Harcourt.
NLNG launched a vocational scheme of innovation and empowerment business (Vibes) to boost commercial activities within its host communities.
Vibes was designed to guarantee the growth and sustainability of small businesses owned and administered by previously beneficiaries under an earlier initiative of the youth empowerment scheme (yes).
The scheme offers participants, who own existing business, help improve their business, as well as a broader support system that includes additional tutorials, networks and advisory services.
Read also: NLNG RENAMES, relaces the key economic empowerment strategy
Sophia Hosrfall, the general manager of NLNG, external relations and sustainable development, in the launch of the Vibes Pitch-A-Thon on May 22, 2025, said that “NLNG believes that business spirit is not just about starting and directing a business. It is about creating opportunities that increase communities to boost economic growth and the provocation of a positive social change.”
She said that the remodeled initiative is a deliberate effort to generate business knowledge, as well as the necessary networks to grow entrepreneurs in line with the company’s vision of improving lives sustainably.
Hosrfall said: “NLNG believes that the Vibes initiative has the potential to create opportunities and grow the minds of young participants. Vibes is about seeing a gap and choosing to close it in an innovative way. It is an impact, creation of jobs and build a sustainable prosperity from the inside.
“Our commitment to business spirit is based on a clear and lasting purpose: to train young people in our host communities and unlock the unlimited potential within them.
“Today, 75 bold entrepreneurs are taking a step forward to present their businesses and ideas. I am proud to announce that 50 outstanding participants will receive a subsidy of 5 million Nairras to feed the growth of their business. According to this, NLNG is trusting its ability to lead the change among their classmates, their communities and among young people in society in general,” he said.
YEMI ADEIEMI, NLNG manager, community relations and sustainable development, at the end of May 23, 2025, reminded the meeting that Pitch-A-Thon vibrations are not the first NLNG adventure in youth empowerment.
“Many of you can remember our youth empowerment scheme (yes) launched in 2004.
More than 1,000 young men and women were equipped with skills, commercial training and starting support. Today, many of them are prosperous entrepreneurs: building business, using others and changing lives. “
Adeyemi praised the participating entrepreneurs: for their resistance, vision and audacity to dream.
He assured them that “if you receive a subsidy today or you will get a loan with a single digit interest to maintain your business, you must take into account that it is now part of a growing movement, one that is promoting a real change of the bases.
“The knowledge, the skills and networks that you have acquired through vibration training are your tools to build durable legacies. Use them wisely. Use them with courage. Use them to create businesses that solve problems, use others and lifting communities,” he said.
