The Ogoni Entrepreneurship Summit (OES) today proudly unveils the ₦200 Million Ogoni Revolving Fund Scheme for 2026, a landmark economic empowerment initiative funded by Chief Lesi Maol, OES Convener and a distinguished son of Ogoni. Emerging from the Annual Ogoni Entrepreneurship Summit held in December 2025, the initiative reflects a renewed commitment to building a vibrant, self-reliant, and economically empowered Ogoni society.
The Ogoni Revolving Fund Scheme is designed to unlock entrepreneurial potential by supporting entrepreneurs, existing businesses, and micro-enterprises/trading across Ogoniland. Its objective is to stimulate sustainable economic growth, create jobs, and enable dignified livelihoods through enterprise. Structured as a revolving fund, repayments from beneficiaries will create opportunities for others, ensuring continuity and shared prosperity across generations.
Beyond financial support, the scheme offers structured guidance to strengthen local production, encourage innovation, and build resilient businesses. It is anchored on transparency, accountability, inclusiveness, and merit-based selection, with clear eligibility criteria, monitoring mechanisms, and repayment frameworks to ensure lasting impact. The initiative reflects Chief Lesi Maol’s belief that sustainable development is driven by deliberate investment in people, skills, and productive capacity.
The press conference also formally announces the establishment of the OES Grant Selection Committee to ensure a credible and transparent selection process. The Committee is chaired by Sir (Dr.) Leesi Gabriel Gborogbosi, with Engr. Tudor Miikor as Secretary, Dr. Elvis Lebura Ikoma as Finance Lead, and Mr. Ndume Green as Media Lead. The Committee oversees application review, screening, due diligence, training, and the overall integrity of the OES Grant Programme.
The OES Grant Programme targets entrepreneurs, existing businesses, and micro-enterprises/trading, assessed strictly on merit to ensure a level playing field and support initiatives capable of generating sustainable economic and social value across Ogoniland.
Following the closure of the application portal on 9th January 2026, over 500 applications were assessed, with 111 applicants shortlisted to advance to a mandatory training programme scheduled for Saturday, 14th February 2026. Applicants not shortlisted in the first phase have been invited for further physical screening from Tuesday, 10th February to Thursday, 12th February 2026, at Giolee Global Resources Corporate Headquarters, near the Army Range/C4i Checkpoint, Eneka, Port Harcourt. Applicants are advised to check the OES website on Monday, 9th February 2026, for their status and screening details.
All shortlisted applicants are required to attend the training with their OES T-shirts and Local Government Identification Certificates as part of due diligence and accountability measures.
The OES Grant Selection Committee expresses sincere appreciation to all applicants and stakeholders for their patience and trust. This initiative represents more than funding, it embodies a collective resolve to move Ogoni from potential to productivity, from aspiration to achievement, and from promise to shared prosperity.
Together, through integrity, collaboration, and enterprise, Ogoni is charting a new path toward sustainable economic growth and development. God bless Ogoni. God bless Rivers State. God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria as stakeholders align efforts to support inclusive enterprise development statewide collectively
