‎51 entrepreneurs win ₦250m in NLNG VIBES grant programme

‎By Chioma Obinagwam
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‎The Nigeria LNG Limited (NLNG) has disbursed ₦250 million in business grants to 51 entrepreneurs drawn from its host communities in Rivers State, concluding the 2026 edition of its Vocational Innovation and Business Empowerment Scheme (VIBES).
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‎Confiance News gathered from a statement issued by Anne-Marie Palmer-Ikuku,
‎Manager, Corporate Communication and Public Affairs at NLNG on Wednesday.
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‎The disbursement followed a competitive pitch-a-thon that served as the programme’s final event, where participants presented their business proposals before a panel of judges. Selections were made on the basis of viability, scalability, and sustainability of each idea pitched.
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‎VIBES began with the induction of 103 participants and ran for four weeks, equipping entrepreneurs with skills in financial management, business strategy, marketing, and operations before the competitive funding round.
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‎Speaking at the event, NLNG’s General Manager for External Relations and Sustainable Development, Sophia Horsfall, said the grant component was designed to move participants beyond training into practical business execution.
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‎”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,” Horsfall said.
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“Through VIBES, we are providing targeted support to help these entrepreneurs implement their ideas, stabilise their operations, and position their businesses for growth.”
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‎She described the initiative as part of NLNG’s broader strategy for sustainable community development, one that combines capacity building with direct access to funding. “It is about providing sustainable livelihoods,” she added.
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‎Also addressing participants, Manager for Community Relations and Sustainable Development Yemi Adeyemi commended them for their dedication throughout the programme and the quality of ideas presented during the pitch-a-thon.
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He said the funding was intended to provide critical growth capital: enabling beneficiaries to expand operations, improve productivity, create jobs, and strengthen their market position.
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‎Adeyemi reaffirmed NLNG’s continued commitment to enterprise development and support for initiatives that build local capacity, promote entrepreneurship, and create sustainable economic opportunities in its host communities.
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‎The VIBES programme is structured around the principles of innovation, scalability, and sustainability, and is positioned as part of NLNG’s approach to inclusive economic development in the Niger Delta region.
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