The Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria Limited (SPDC) launched the LiveWIRE initiative in 2003 with the goal of increasing employment options for individuals between the ages of 18 and 35. Since then, 9,000 youngsters in the Niger Delta have gained entrepreneurial skills. Through training, business coaching, and start-up grants, the beneficiaries were able to establish their own companies and hire workers.
More than 1,000 young entrepreneurs from host communities in Rivers, Bayelsa, and Delta states participated in the most recent training, which was supported by the SPDC Joint Venture, which consists of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, TotalEnergies, and Nigerian Agip Oil Company. After creating business strategies and presenting them to professionals, they received their diploma in Port Harcourt last week.
“We’re delighted at the success of the LiveWIRE programme,” SPDC Director and Head Corporate Relations, Igo Weli, said at the graduation ceremony. “This training is set aside for young people from our host communities which means they can also enjoy the benefits of the programme and join the teeming number of entrepreneurs, several of whom now have the chance to participate in SPDC’s business as vendors. LIveWIRE is one of many ways through which Shell and her partners are powering progress in Nigeria.”
The graduation ceremony featured a technical conference with the theme, “Unlocking Growth: Leveraging Policies to Build an Inclusive Tech Eco System in the Niger Delta.” The keynote speaker, Iyke Kemabonta, and panelists, Soala Jumbo, Davies Awongo, Kalada Briggs, Vivien Ene and Ezieke Amaefula, challenged the beneficiaries to grow their businesses, overcome environmental challenges and enable the Niger Delta to reap the rewards of the programme.
Trainees from the 2023 Regional LiveWIRE programme from Rivers, Delta, Bayelsa, Imo, Abia, Akwa Ibom, Cross River and Edo states also joined the graduation ceremony. Beneficiaries were inducted into the LiveWIRE Alumni Group by three previous participants who now run their own businesses — Precious Adeho, Queen Esther Bolou-Ebi and Kalada Briggs. The trio encouraged the recipients to use the opportunity as launching pads into international recognition and success.
In a noteworthy accomplishment, five prior recipients were granted the LiveWIRE International “Go and Trade Enterprise Linkage Award,” which allowed them to go to London, Dubai, Malaysia, and Ghana, a nearby country, for business purposes. Additionally, Livewire Nigeria gives recipients the opportunity to compete for the Global Shell LiveWIRE Top Ten Innovators Award, which has enormous financial prizes.
Shell’s global enterprise development program for small enterprises, LiveWIRE, operates in 18 nations. By 2023, the initiative had taught over 3,400 individuals and contributed to the creation of over 1,200 jobs globally.
