By Samuel OYADONGHA

Indigenes of Gbarain-Ekpetiama in the Yenagoa local government area of Bayelsa State had cause to celebrate, when the Anglo-Dutch oil giant, Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC), last week doled out business start-up grants and starter packs worth millions of naira to 100 women and young girls from the area.

The beneficiaries were trained in enterprise development and management under the company’s LiveWIRE programme. This brings to 5000, the number of women and young girls the company has so far trained in the Niger Delta.

The aim of the LiveWire programme, is to assist the beneficiaries to set up their own businesses through provision of business start-up grants worth millions of naira. Interestingly, the latest beneficiaries of the programme were drawn from the company’s host communities to the multiple billion naira Gbarain Ubie gas gathering plant.

The communities include, Agbia, Asaigbene, Ayama, Koroama, Nedugo, Obunagha, Ogboloma, Okolobiri, Okotiama, Polaku, Agidama, Akanbiri, Bomoundi, Bomoudigebene, Gbarantoru, Ikibiri and Tombia.

Speaking at the graduation ceremony of the beneficiaries of the LiveWIRE programme, tagged Gbarain-Ekpetiama Youth Training and Enterprise Development programme, the SPDC Managing Director and Country Chair, Mr. Mutiu Sumonu, said the gesture was part of the company’s contribution to improving the socio-economic well being of the people of its host communities.