Since its inception in 2003, the Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria Limited (SPDC) LiveWIRE programme has equipped 9,000 youths from the Niger Delta with entrepreneurial skills.
According to SPDC, the initiative, targeting individuals aged 18 to 35, aims to enhance employment opportunities in the region. Beneficiaries have received start-up grants, business mentorship, and training to launch their own businesses, becoming job creators in their communities.
The latest cohort of over 1,000 young entrepreneurs, drawn from host communities in Rivers, Bayelsa, and Delta states, completed their training last week in Port Harcourt. Sponsored by the SPDC Joint Venture—including the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), TotalEnergies, and Nigerian Agip Oil Company—the training concluded with participants presenting business plans to industry experts. Of the trainees, 654 were recognized as top performers.
“We’re delighted at the success of the LiveWIRE programme,” said Igo Weli, SPDC’s Director and Head of Corporate Relations, at the graduation ceremony. “This programme is dedicated to empowering young people from our host communities, enabling them to not only benefit personally but also contribute to the economic growth of the region. Through LiveWIRE, Shell and its partners continue to power progress in Nigeria, with some participants becoming SPDC vendors.”
The graduation also featured a technical conference themed “Unlocking Growth: Leveraging Policies to Build an Inclusive Tech Ecosystem in the Niger Delta.” Keynote speaker Iyke Kemabonta, along with panelists Soala Jumbo, Davies Awongo, Kalada Briggs, Vivien Ene, and Ezieke Amaefula, encouraged graduates to expand their businesses, overcome local challenges, and maximize the programme’s impact on the region.
Participants from the 2023 Regional LiveWIRE programme, representing Rivers, Delta, Bayelsa, Imo, Abia, Akwa Ibom, Cross River, and Edo states, also attended the ceremony. They were inducted into the LiveWIRE Alumni Group by three notable past beneficiaries—Precious Adeho, Queen Esther Bolou-Ebi, and Kalada Briggs—who now run thriving businesses. These alumni urged the new graduates to leverage the programme’s opportunities for global recognition and success.
Notably, five past beneficiaries of the programme won the LiveWIRE International “Go and Trade Enterprise Linkage Award,” enabling them to explore trade opportunities in London, Dubai, Malaysia, and Ghana. Beneficiaries can also compete for the prestigious Global Shell LiveWIRE Top Ten Innovators Award, which offers substantial rewards.
LiveWIRE is a global initiative by Shell to develop small businesses, active in 18 countries. As of 2023, the programme had trained approximately 3,400 individuals and created over 1,200 jobs worldwide, further solidifying its impact on local and global communities.
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