SPDC Tasks SSEs To Leverage Opportunities

Small scale entrepreneurs (SSEs) in the Niger Delta have been challenged to leverage on available initiatives and opportunities in the oil and gas sector as well as other economic growth windows to enhance their contributions to community, state and national development.

Social Performance Manager, Shell, Emeka Obi, threw the challenge while addressing participants at the maiden edition of the “Meet-The-Listeners’ Forum” of The Small Business Today Radio Show, in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital, last Thursday.

Obi, who represented the General Manager, Social Performance and Community Affairs, Tony Attah, said Shell has continued to strengthen efforts to encourage the growth of small businesses in order to curb unemployment and spur economic growth through a number of empowerment programmes, including LiveWIRE, TELSEP, YTEP, micro-credit schemes, agricultural projects, land and marine transport, among others.

With more than 170 participants drawn from three states of Abia, Imo and Rivers at the forum, the small business operators (SBOs) and those preparing to venture into one form of business or the other, were told that the essence of the event was to create an opportunity for them to learn about the requirements for setting up small businesses, and how to cope with frustrations and challenges associated with running a business.

The social performance manager stated that although The Small Business Today Radio Show has done a lot to provide information on how to set up and run small businesses to intending entrepreneurs, but stressed that the forum was meant to answer the litany of unanswered questions asked by listeners to the radio programme, usually aired on Family Love 97.7 FM, Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Jeremy 95.1 FM, Warri, Delta State, and Glory 97.1 FM, Yenagoa, Bayelsa State.

He said the SPDC Joint Venture created the forum to provide more direct feedback from small business stakeholders (SBSs) in the catchment states, and also brought two experienced business practitioners to help discuss in detail, ‘how to find a business that is right for you’, and ‘how to source funds for your business’, adding that the discourse would expose participants to the philosophies and general principles of small business management, requirements and challenges of specific businesses.

Obi emphasised that Shell would be encouraged to do more for small business operators, if they take advantage of the platform to improve their businesses, create more wealth and help to promote sustainable employment of youths in the Niger Delta, and tasked them not disappoint the company as a huge chunk of its contributions to social investments has been dedicated to elevating the opportunities available to small business entrepreneurs (SBEs) in the region.

In his remarks, Producer & Host, The Small Business Today Radio Show, Charles Nwahiwe, thanked SPDC JV, the radio stations and small business stakeholders in the region for availing him the privilege of making an impact in small business development, and appealed for greater participation of corporate organizations to further stimulate and make the business environment more robust.

In his speech, Head, Economic Empowerment, SPDC, Dr Chibuzo Anyim, challenged Niger Delta youths to get off the ground, and start up one business or the other in order to contribute to the development of their immediate communities, and also tasked the more than five participating banks and financial institutions to support the growth of small business operators (SBOs) to facilitate symbiotic and integrated economic development of the nation. 

While the Managing Consultant/Chief Executive Officer, VTB Business Support Services, Port Harcourt, Victor Briggs, presented a paper on, ‘Choosing The Business That Is Right For You’, the Managing Director, Neighbourhood Microfinance Bank, Port Harcourt, Folanmi Fawehinmi, discussed extensively on, ‘Finding Funds To Start & Grow A Small Business’, at the forum, expected to tour Yenagoa and Warri, in a couple of weeks.

Highlights of the event include exhibitions by small business operators, networking and interactions between the small scale entrepreneurs and the major and microfinance banks on areas of support and partnership.

Nelson Chukwudi