Business
SPDC Kick-Starts 2nd LiveWIRE For Ogoni Youth
Youth in Ogoniland have been
offered another chance to start their own businesses as the Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria Ltd (SPDC) Operated Joint Venture, at the weekend, kick-started the second batch of the LiveWIRE programme aimed at empowering the youth to engage in viable businesses and help develop their communities, and Rivers State.
This is coming on the heels of the completion of the training of 105 Ogoni youth in the first tranche in the 2014/2015 programme.
Already, more than 100 youth from the four local government areas in Ogoni — Khana, Gokana, Tai and Eleme — have submitted business ideas for the 2016 edition in response to newspaper advertisements.
A statement, yesterday, signed by the Corporate Media Relations Manager, Shell Nigeria, Precious Okolobo, quoted the General Manager, External Relations, Igo Weli, as saying that, “The LiveWIRE programme for Ogoni youth is a targeted initiative, and is part of efforts to encourage youth in the area to take up viable and legitimate means of livelihood”.
Weli added that, “The 2011 UNEP Report on Ogoniland had recommended programmes aimed at supporting youth for alternative means of livelihood so they can stay away from crude oil theft and illegal oil refining activities. We’re happy that the youth are enthusiastic about the opportunities we’re offering them through LiveWIRE.”
The general manager explained that: “We expect to replicate the same success story in the 2016 LiveWIRE programme, helping youth to create jobs and giving the new employers and employees a new lease of life.”
The Tide reports that the flagship youth enterprise development programme aims to reach young people aged 18-35 to start their own businesses through the provision of training and finance.
The three-month training covers welding and fabrication, electrical installation, food preparation and culinary arts, information technology, fashion and beauty care, carpentry and joinery, and hairdressing and beauty therapy.
The trainees will be provided starter packs at the end of the session to start their own businesses.
Equipped with the skills and packs, The Tide recalls that some 78 graduates of the premier LiveWIRE session have started their own businesses, and also created jobs.
Josephine Atagana