117 young entrepreneurs from the Niger Delta have graduated
from the Shell Nigeria LiveWIRE programme and have been awarded a N48m grant to
either establish or expand their businesses. This brings to 7,913 the total
number of beneficiaries of the youth enterprise development programme since
inception in 2003.
Speaking at the graduation ceremony, Shell’s Country Head of
Corporate Relations, Igo Weli, restated the commitment of SPDC to the
development of Niger Delta youths and providing them alternative livelihood
opportunities through LiveWIRE and other empowerment programmes in the wider
social investment portfolio of the company.
Weli said, “This is one opportunity to set you on the path
of self-reliance and to be employers of labour as we have seen with previous
beneficiaries of the programme many of whom are now employers with several
others having also taken up the opportunity to play in SPDC’s supply chain as
vendors.”
Explaining the criteria for the selection of the
beneficiaries from across the Niger Delta, SPDC’s Social Performance and Social
Investment Manager, Dr. Gloria Udoh, said the selection was from a pool of
graduates from university or its equivalent who have credible business ideas
and were able to produce a business plan.
“The 117 beneficiaries were selected from a large pool of
participants who went through the entrepreneurship training; wrote their
business plans and successfully pitched their business ideas. The expectation
is that they will be able to successfully establish or expand their businesses
and also enjoy the many linkage opportunities offered by SPDC,” Udoh said.
Previous beneficiaries, who now run successful businesses,
also inspired the graduates with their own stories towards success. Yolo
Bakumor Smith, the Chief Executive Officer of De-Rabacon Plastics, described
the training as priceless. “It was instrumental to using the limited resources
to improvise and implementing a plan that has led me to still making profit.”
Executive Director, Centre for Information and Development,
Mrs. Belema Ogbuigwe, inducted the new graduates into the Shell LiveWire Alumni
group, which further enables the young entrepreneurs to enjoy mentorship from
previous beneficiaries.
In the last 10 years, five Shell Nigeria LiveWIRE
beneficiaries have won the LiveWIRE International “Go and Trade Enterprise
Linkage Award” which enabled them to make international trade visits to the
United Kingdom, the United Arab Emirates, and Ghana.
LiveWIRE beneficiaries are also able to join thousands of
young entrepreneurs from all over the world who compete for the Global Shell
LiveWIRE Top Ten Innovators Award which comes with huge benefits and rewards.