Pipeline Infrastructure Nigeria Limited has begun a new empowerment initiative targeting 2000 women across the Eastern Corridor of the Trans Niger Pipeline. The programme is part of the company’s corporate social responsibility efforts to support its host communities through business support, financial inclusion and local development.
The beneficiaries were selected from 215 communities in Rivers, Bayelsa, Abia and Imo States, with the aim of strengthening small scale businesses and improving livelihood opportunities for women living around pipeline routes.
The initiative, which falls under the PINL Women Employment and Empowerment Scheme, is being implemented in partnership with Premium Trust Bank to ensure smooth financial processes for the grants. During the data capturing exercise for beneficiaries from Rivers, Abia and Imo States held in Port Harcourt, the General Manager of Community Relations and Stakeholders Engagement at PINL, Dr. Akpos Mezeh, explained that the company designed the programme to appreciate the women for their crucial role in helping to reduce pipeline vandalism.
According to him, “Today is a day set aside by the company to say thank you to the women. 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 by providing viable information with which we use to wage this war against crude theft.” He noted that four women from each of the 215 communities will receive business support grants alongside mentorship to help them sustain their businesses.
Mezeh added that the empowerment scheme will run alongside the ongoing skills training programme and scholarship initiative for youths in the host communities. He said, “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 program and the skill acquisition program that is going on simultaneously.”
He further noted that the grants will be paid directly into the bank accounts of beneficiaries, and professionals have been engaged to monitor their progress through financial literacy training and regular evaluations. The annual CSR effort aims to create long-term impact for women entrepreneurs in the region.
At the verification and screening exercise, some of the beneficiaries expressed optimism about the initiative and thanked PINL for prioritising community development. Francisca Nkechi Okanma from Okohia in Abia State said the business support would help them grow their ventures and support their families. She said, “We have submitted our BVN, account number. Last month we were here for NIN. We came back for verification to be sure that the details we submitted are ours. So we have submitted everything and we’re waiting for them to empower us so that we can make use of the money and help our husbands to train our children.”
Another beneficiary, Bridget Nnadiwe from Mmabele Autonomous Community Ahead East in Rivers State, said she plans to expand her business if she receives the funds. “If they give me the money, I’ll leave my kiosk and rent a shop and buy more goods,” she said.
