The move to link 2,000 women from the pipeline host communities to business support has kicked off in the eastern corridor of the oil region.
This is being executed as part of the corporate social responsibility (CSR) of the Pipeline Infrastructure Nigeria Limited (PINL) for the Eastern corridor of the Trans Niger Pipeline (TNP).
The women from the 215 host communities on the TNP covering Rivers, Bayelsa, Abia and Imo States are said to be given business support to boost their small scale businesses.
The initiative which is under the PINL Women Employment and Empowerment Scheme is done in partnership with Premium Trust Bank.
Akpos Mezeh, General Manager, Community Relations and Stakeholders Engagement of PINL, who spoke in Port Harcourt during the data capturing exercise for Rivers, Abia and Imo beneficiaries, said the initiative was aimed at appreciating the women for their support in combating pipeline vandalism in their communities.
He explained that four women from each of the 215 communities would benefit from the business support initiative including mentorship to sustain their businesses, adding that it would run alongside the skills training programme and scholarship for youths.
“The women play a critical role in the fight against pipeline vandalism because our operations are intelligence driven. The women have supported us in different ways to support this war against crude theft.
“The women are from the host communities where we have our operations. From every community we are giving business support grants to four women totaling 215 communities. This is to complement the scholarship as well as the skill acquisition programmes that are going on simultaneously,” Mezeh added.
The PINL official said the grant which would be paid directly into the bank accounts of the beneficiaries would be an annual CSR with professionals already engaged to strictly monitor the progress of beneficiaries including giving them financial literacy training.
A beneficiary, Francisca Nkechi Okanma from Okohia in Abia State, expressed hope that the empowerment would help them in boosting their businesses and assisting their families.
“We have submitted our Bank Verification Number (BVN), account number and our National Identity Number (NIN). We have ensured that the details we submitted were correct.” she said.
Also speaking, Bridget Nnadiwe from Mmabele Autonomous Community Ahead East, Rivers State, said if the money was given to her, she would rent a shop to expand her trade.
For Esther Step from Norkpo Community in Tai in Tai LGA of Rivers State, the information about the empowerment was relayed to them through their community chief, adding that four of them were selected by the community to benefit from the scheme.
According to Mezeh, more women from the 215 communities would also benefit from the programme, which has been planned to run annually.
He urged beneficiaries to judiciously manage the funds to boost their various businesses and improve their standard of living.
He restated the commitment of PINL to positively impact its host communities thereby encouraging them to stay away from oil theft and pipeline vandalism.
