NNPCL Empowers 531 NYSC Members with Business Grants and Starter Packs

The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) has extended economic support to 531 corps members across the country, providing them with grants and starter packs to boost entrepreneurial development and self-reliance among Nigerian youths.

The initiative, carried out under the NNPC Foundation’s Youth Empowerment and Growth Scheme (NYEGS), targets corps members who completed skill acquisition training during their National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) year. The beneficiaries, drawn from the 2023 Batch A Stream 2, received funding and essential business equipment to launch ventures in sectors such as fashion, ICT, agriculture, and cosmetology.

Speaking at the official presentation in Abuja, NNPCL’s Group Chief Executive Officer, Mele Kyari, represented by the Executive Vice President (Corporate Services), Umar Ajiya, said the programme is part of the company’s commitment to national development and youth empowerment.

Kyari noted that the initiative aligns with NNPCL’s goal of reducing youth unemployment and fostering innovation. “Our aim is to provide young Nigerians with not just skills, but the means to turn those skills into sustainable livelihoods,” he stated.

The Executive Director of NNPC Foundation, Mrs. Emmanuella Arukwe, emphasized that the selection process was merit-based, ensuring that only the most dedicated and capable participants were chosen for the scheme.

Many of the beneficiaries expressed gratitude to the NNPCL, describing the initiative as life-changing. One recipient, Blessing Eze from Enugu State, said the grant would enable her to start a full-scale agro-processing business she had trained for during her service year.

This empowerment initiative is part of NNPCL’s broader corporate social responsibility agenda, which includes education, healthcare, and community development programs across Nigeria.