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9,000 Niger Delta Youths Undergo Shell LiveWIRE Programme

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Shell LiveWIRE programme

By Modupe Gbadeyanka

No fewer than 9,000 youths in the Niger Delta have been trained and supported with start-up grants and business mentorship in the LiveWIRE programme of the Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria Limited (SPDC) since it was introduced in 2003.

The scheme is part of efforts to boost employment opportunities among people aged 18 – 35 years, enabling them to launch their businesses and become employers of labour.

The latest training involved more than 1,000 young entrepreneurs from host communities in Rivers, Bayelsa and Delta states.

They graduated last week in Port Harcourt having developed business plans and pitched them to experts as part of the training. 654 trainees were selected as best-performers.

The graduation ceremony featured a technical conference with the theme, Unlocking Growth: Leveraging Policies to Build an Inclusive Tech Ecosystem in the Niger Delta.

The keynote speaker, Iyke Kemabonta, and panellists, 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 to launch pads into international recognition and success.

In a notable achievement, five previous beneficiaries won the LiveWIRE International Go and Trade Enterprise Linkage Award which enabled them to embark on trade visits to London, Dubai, Malaysia, and neighbouring Ghana.

Livewire Nigeria also offers beneficiaries the chance to compete for the Global Shell LiveWIRE Top Ten Innovators Award which comes with huge rewards.

At the graduation ceremony, the Director and Head of Corporate Relations at SPDC, Igo Weli, said, “We’re delighted at the success of the LiveWIRE programme.

“This training is set aside for young people from our host communities which means they can also enjoy the programme’s benefits 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.”

LiveWIRE, sponsored by the SPDC Joint Venture, which includes the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited, TotalEnergies and Nigerian Agip Oil Company, is the company’s global enterprise development initiative for small businesses and is active in 18 countries.

As at 2023, the programme had trained about 3,400 people and helped create more than 1,200 jobs around the world.

Modupe Gbadeyanka is a fast-rising journalist with Business Post Nigeria. Her passion for journalism is amazing. She is willing to learn more with a view to becoming one of the best pen-pushers in Nigeria. Her role models are the duo of CNN's Richard Quest and Christiane Amanpour.

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NECA’s Annual Retreat for Business Managers, Executives Holds April 16

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NECA Adewale Smatt-Oyerinde

By Aduragbemi Omiyale

The annual retreat for business managers and executives organised by the Nigeria Employers’ Consultative Association (NECA) will take place from April 16 to 18, 2026, at the AAE & T Hotel, Kuto, Abeokuta, Ogun State.

This year’s edition is themed The Resilient Enterprise, People and Systems: Building and Managing Businesses that Outlive Seasons, Cycles and Crises.

The programme aims to equip leaders with the insights, tools, and networks required to build resilient organisations in an increasingly complex business environment.

It will provide a unique platform for executive-level engagement through high-level conversations, peer learning sessions with experienced leaders, strategy reflection workshops, and curated networking opportunities.

Expected to attend are industry leaders, senior executives, and business managers from across sectors. They will explore strategies for sustaining organisational performance through leadership transitions, economic cycles, regulatory shifts, and market disruptions.

Participants will also benefit from interactive discussions focused on strengthening corporate governance, developing agile leadership capabilities, and building organisational systems that can withstand periods of uncertainty and transformation.

A notice from NECA said the event is open to both members and non-members, with participation fees set at N300,000 for members and N320,000 for non-members. Discounts will also be available for Gold and Silver members, subject to applicable terms and conditions.

Interested participants are encouraged to register via the official registration link to secure their place at the retreat, which promises to deliver valuable insights and connections for executives seeking to build enterprises capable of thriving through seasons of change and uncertainty.

The Director-General of NECA, Mr Adewale Smatt-Oyerinde, noted that by convening business managers and senior executives in a collaborative learning environment, the association aims to contribute to the development of stronger, future-ready enterprises that can drive economic growth, create jobs, and support national development even in the face of evolving global and local challenges.

He added that the retreat will provide executives with the opportunity to step away from daily operational demands and engage in deeper strategic conversations with peers and industry experts.

“The theme of this year’s retreat speaks directly to the realities businesses face today. Across sectors, organisations are navigating leadership transitions, regulatory shifts, economic pressures, and technological disruption.

“What distinguishes enduring enterprises is their ability to build strong systems, develop capable leaders, and create organisational cultures that can adapt and respond effectively to change,” the NECA chief said.

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Egbin Power Commissions 80 New Staff Housing Units

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Egbin Power 80 New Staff Housing Units

By Modupe Gbadeyanka

In further demonstration of its unwavering commitment to its workforce, Nigeria’s foremost power generation company, Egbin Power Plc, has unveiled 80 new residential housing units for employees within its plant premises in Egbin, Lagos State.

This comprises 40 fully furnished three-bedroom apartments and 40 furnished studio apartments, all designed to contemporary standards.

The units feature modern infrastructure and thoughtfully planned utilities, creating a safe, comfortable, and conducive living environment that supports both employee productivity and family well-being.

This strategic investment underscores the company’s philosophy that a well-supported workforce is fundamental to sustained operational excellence.

The new housing units are part of a holistic strategy to cultivate a stable, motivated, and future-ready workforce.

This strategy extends beyond infrastructure to encompass robust career development and recognition. Over the past three years, Egbin Power has promoted 112 employees across various cadres, reinforcing a culture that rewards merit, performance, and long-term dedication

“At Egbin Power, our people are our most valuable asset. Even amidst the prevailing liquidity and operational realities within the broader power sector, our focus on employee welfare has remained deliberate and consistent.

“This significant expansion of our residential estate is a tangible expression of that commitment.

“It is one of several key initiatives aimed at ensuring our employees feel genuinely supported, allowing them to thrive both personally and professionally,” the chief executive of Egbin Power, Mr Mokhtar Bounour, said.

Initiated in 2025 and completed in January 2026, this project is the latest milestone in Egbin Power’s structured and ongoing approach to enhancing employee welfare. It reflects the energy firm’s dedication to fostering a culture where every team member feels valued, secure, and motivated.

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NGX Group, CSCS, WIMBIZ to Ring Bell for Gender Equality

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Ring Bell for Gender Equality

By Aduragbemi Omiyale

On Tuesday, March 10, 2026, at the Nigerian Exchange Group House in Lagos, the role of capital markets in promoting gender equality will be reemphasised through the closing gong ceremony in commemoration of International Women’s Day 2026.

The ceremony is part of the global Ring the Bell for Gender Equality campaign, which mobilises stock exchanges worldwide to expand women’s participation in the economy and advance gender-inclusive practices.

In Nigeria, the NGX Group is partnering with the Central Securities Clearing System (CSCS) Plc and Women in Management, Business and Public Service (WIMBIZ) to make it memorable under the theme Rights. Justice. Action. For ALL Women and Girls.

Dignitaries expected at the ceremony include the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Mrs Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu; the First Lady of Imo State, Mrs Chioma Uzodimma; the Executive Commissioner for Legal and Enforcement at the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Ms Frana Chukwuogor; foremost actor, Ms Funke Akindele; a Director at the NGX Group, Ms Ojinnika Olaghere; and another staffer of NGX Group, Mrs Fatima Wali-Abdulrahman, alongside board members of NGX Group, regulators, capital market stakeholders, and industry leaders.

NGX Group is joining other exchanges worldwide in sounding the NGX Gong to underscore the importance of inclusive leadership, equal opportunities, and stronger market accountability in advancing gender equality.

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