Office of Sole Rep Launches Itsekiri SME Grants, Skills Programme

A new set of empowerment opportunities has been rolled out for Itsekiri indigenes, with a focus on business support and technical skill development.

The Office of the Sole Representative of the Olu of Warri to NNPC Limited and its joint venture partners announced the launch of the Itsekiri Indigenes SME Grant Programme alongside a Skills Training Programme, both aimed at strengthening local enterprise and improving employability.

The SME grant will provide funding support to Itsekiri-owned startups and existing businesses, while the skills training programme is structured to deliver hands-on experience in technical fields. Training will take place at El-Totuoma Weld School in Port Harcourt and UNIBEN Consultancy in partnership with Petro-Tracking in Benin City, covering areas such as welding, fabrication, boat building, pipeline inspection, natural gas processing, drilling operations, forklift operations, electrical and solar installation, and crop production. A total of 660 slots is available.

The programmes are open strictly to Itsekiri indigenes, with applications running from April 10 to April 30, 2026. Interested applicants can access full details and apply via the following links:[www.owpla.org](http://www.owpla.org)
[https://owpla.org/apply/uniben-consultancy-petro-tracking-technical-training-benin-city](https://owpla.org/apply/uniben-consultancy-petro-tracking-technical-training-benin-city)
[https://owpla.org/apply/el-totuoma-weld-school-training-programme-port-harcourt](https://owpla.org/apply/el-totuoma-weld-school-training-programme-port-harcourt)
[https://owpla.org/apply/itsekiri-indigenes-sme-grant-programme](https://owpla.org/apply/itsekiri-indigenes-sme-grant-programme)

Organisers note that only applicants who meet the stated eligibility criteria will be considered.