NLNG Sustains Investment in Enterprise Development with New VIBES Programme Cohort
By Emmanuel Oduara, Pan Afric Reporters
Nigeria LNG Limited (NLNG) has inducted a new cohort of 103 trainees into its Vocational Innovation Business and Empowerment Scheme (VIBES), further strengthening its commitment to sustainable economic empowerment and youth development in its host communities.
The induction ceremony, held on Monday in Port Harcourt, marks another significant milestone in NLNG’s ongoing investment in capacity building and enterprise development across Rivers State and its pipeline communities.
The newly inducted participants will undertake a structured programme of training and capacity development, culminating in a competitive pitching phase where outstanding business proposals will be evaluated and selected based on clearly defined criteria.
In parallel, 26 participants from the previous cohort successfully completed the programme, marking the conclusion of their training cycle. These beneficiaries had received grant support in the preceding year to establish and scale their business ventures.
One year post-support, several of the graduates have demonstrated measurable progress, including strengthened operational capacity, improved financial management, expanded customer reach, and the transition from early-stage ideas to structured, revenue-generating enterprises.
Some participants have also scaled up production and diversified their offerings, reflecting enhanced business resilience and sustainability.
Speaking at the induction ceremony, NLNG’s General Manager, External Relations and Sustainable Development, Sophia Horsfall, reaffirmed the company’s commitment to inclusive and sustainable development:
“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.
The graduation of one cohort and the induction of another underscore the continuity of our investment in youth empowerment, innovation, and enterprise development as key drivers of inclusive growth.”
She further noted that VIBES is a strategic intervention aligned with NLNG’s broader sustainability objectives, designed to foster entrepreneurial capacity and build the networks required for emerging business leaders and community change-makers to thrive.
Also speaking, the Manager, Community Relations and Sustainable Development, Yemi Adeyemi, described the programme’s impact as both tangible and rewarding:
“Our support extends beyond training to include grant funding that enables beneficiaries to strengthen their businesses.
A year later, we are seeing clear results—businesses are expanding, ideas have progressed into execution, and beneficiaries are more confident in managing their ventures. This is the essence of VIBES: practical support that drives real progress.”
The VIBES programme is NLNG’s flagship economic empowerment initiative, designed to equip young entrepreneurs with the knowledge, tools, and resources required to build sustainable livelihoods. Participants receive hands-on training in financial management, marketing, business strategy, and foundational legal principles, supported by mentorship and advisory services from experienced professionals.
This integrated approach—combining capacity development with funding support—enables participants to scale operations, improve profitability, and establish resilient enterprises.
Economic empowerment remains a cornerstone of NLNG’s broader sustainable development framework, alongside key interventions in education, infrastructure, and healthcare.
Through VIBES, the company continues to foster entrepreneurship, create economic value, and support long-term community development across its areas of operation.
Following the relaunch of the programme, a total of 26 participants have successfully benefited from grant support and completed their training under the initiative.
