Nigeria Liquified Natural Gas (NLNG) has concluded its Vocational Innovation and Business Empowerment Scheme (VIBES) — an initiative designed to empower young Nigerians with practical skills and resources — with a pitch-a-thon competition.

The exercise, held in Port Harcourt, enabled participants to present innovative business ideas they developed during their training.

Seventy youths participated in the VIBES programme for four weeks. Thirty-five of them showcased their pitch on Thursday, while 35 showcased theirs on Friday, being the closing day. Of the 70 participants, 28 were given grants of N140,000,000 (N5,000,000 each), while the remaining 42 would be given the opportunity to access an MSME loan of about a million naira.

In a closing speech, the Community Relations and Development Manager, NLNG, Yemi Adeyemi, said letters were sent to 300 persons to participate in the VIBES programme, out of which only seventy made it to the end.

He advised the participants to make judicious use of the knowledge and support funds they got through the programme.

In his vote of thanks, the facilitator of the programme, Charles Nwawihe, said knowledge is more valuable than money, adding that all the participants are going home richer from the knowledge they got.

He expressed hope that VIBES would redefine the business sector in the Niger Delta in the future.

“This is the beginning. We look forward to seeing everyone at the top. See you next time,” he said.