About MPOWER500

Empowering Bayelsa’s entrepreneurs to build, scale, and thrive in the digital economy.

eMPOWER500 (MP500) is the flagship economic empowerment initiative of the Bayelsa State Government, established through the Office of the Special Adviser on Trade and Investment to the Executive Governor of Bayelsa State. Rooted in the Prosperity Agenda of His Excellency, Senator Douye Diri, MP500 is committed to driving inclusive economic growth by supporting 500 nano, micro, small, and medium enterprises (NMSMEs) every year.

With a deliberate focus on youth, women, and grassroots entrepreneurs, MP500 delivers tailored capacity-building programs, strategic business networking, and access to vital resources across key sectors—trade, investment, and innovation.

To build a thriving ecosystem of empowered entrepreneurs across Bayelsa State by enabling 500 nano, micro, small, and medium enterprises annually with the skills, resources, and opportunities needed to drive inclusive trade, stimulate investment, and power sustainable economic growth.

Baseline Philosophy and Theory of Change

Our Guiding Philosophy:

Trade + Business Networking = Development

The Office of the Special Adviser on Trade and Investment operates on the foundational belief that trade and strategic business networking are powerful drivers of inclusive economic development. This formula—Trade + Business Networking = Development—forms the foundation of all programs, projects, partnerships, and initiatives championed by the Office.

The guiding belief is that deliberate efforts to expand trade-based opportunities, combined with targeted business networking platforms that facilitate local and external investment partnerships, will accelerate sustainable development across the state. This directly aligns with and operationalizes a core pillar of Senator Douye Diri’s Prosperity Agenda, advancing a vision of shared wealth, inclusive growth, and entrepreneurial vibrancy in Bayelsa.

Our Theory of Change

If we:

Deepen trade-based initiatives within and beyond Bayelsa State;

Empower nano, micro, small, and medium enterprises—particularly youth- and women-led ventures—with the tools, skills, and networks they need;

Mobilize investment, mentorship, and technical support from public and private partners;

Establish meaningful business networking platforms that link Bayelsa entrepreneurs to national and global markets;

Then we will:

Drive sustainable economic empowerment;

Catalyze job creation and innovation;

Expand market access and financial inclusion;

Spur long-term economic development and prosperity across Bayelsa.

Because:

Empowered entrepreneurs are engines of growth;

Strategic partnerships break barriers to trade and investment;

Inclusive programs close inequality gaps and unlock untapped potential. At

At the heart of this strategy is MPOWER500—a high-impact, scalable initiative designed to annually empower 500 MSMEs across diverse sectors of Bayelsa’s economy through a structured and inclusive approach.

2025 Flagship Program: Bayelsa E-Commerce Entrepreneurship Program (BEEP)

In 2025, MP500 introduces a major innovation: the Bayelsa E-Commerce Entrepreneurship Program (BEEP)—an initiative aimed at transitioning 500 MSMEs into the digital economy.

BEEP Objectives

1

Equip MSMEs with practical skills in e-commerce, logistics, payment systems, and brand development;

2

Connect entrepreneurs with resource pipelines from Federal Government programs and international development partners;

3

Provide training, mentorship, funding opportunities, business tools, and access to broader markets.

Expected Outcomes

Expanded market access for Bayelsa-based businesses;

Increased financial inclusion among underserved populations;

Improved competitiveness of local enterprises in national and global value chains;

Accelerated economic diversification and digital transformation in line with the Prosperity Agenda.

Why BEEP?

Despite Nigeria’s digital boom, many Bayelsa-based businesses remain excluded from its benefits due to limited access, skills, and exposure. BEEP bridges this gap—empowering local entrepreneurs to leverage technology, scale their businesses, and compete in today’s digital economy.

What Makes BEEP Unique?

BEEP is not just another training program. It’s a structured empowerment ecosystem—combining digital learning, hands-on mentorship, branding, technology access, funding opportunities, and market linkages to deliver measurable and lasting impact.

With a deep focus on digital inclusion, job creation, and financial access for youth, women, and grassroots entrepreneurs, BEEP is tailor-made for Bayelsa’s unique economic landscape.

Program Components

Self-Paced Digital Training

Delivered via the MP500 e-learning platform, beneficiaries will receive training based on a custom MP500 curriculum—covering digital marketing, online sales, business operations, and platform integration.

Mentorship & Clustering

Beneficiaries will be grouped into industry-specific MP500 Clusters and paired with experienced entrepreneurs, industry experts, and development mentors for hands-on guidance.

Empowerment Starter Packs

Each selected beneficiary will receive a business starter pack including:

CAC Business Name Registration

Business Bank Account Setup

Domain Registration & Hosting Plan

Business Management and funding access Platform: Capsule

Promotional Branded T-Shirt

Networking & Market Access

Participants will connect with federal agencies, major online marketplaces, development partners, and funding institutions—benefiting from:

Technical support and licenses

Business promotion via media

Access to public and private funding sources

Eligibility Criteria

To apply for BEEP 2025, applicants must:

1

Own a business (registered or unregistered) based in Bayelsa State;

2

Be growth-minded and willing to scale beyond Bayelsa;

3

Be familiar with or open to using smartphones and the internet;

4

Be available in Bayelsa for the BEEP and Presidential Interventions Launching on 17th June 2025 (Bayelsa Government House, Yenagoa);

5

Commit to completing the full MP500 Certificate Training & Mentorship Program.

Programme Timeline

Stay on track with the key dates for MP500

2025
Mentorship

Our Partners

The Office of the Special Adviser on Trade and Investment to the Executive Governor of Bayelsa State is collaborating with the Office of the Technical Adviser on Economic and Financial Inclusion to the President and the Chairman, Presidential Committee on Economic and Financial Inclusion, for the program implementation in Bayelsa State.

BEEP is powered by collaborative efforts between state institutions, federal agencies, the private sector, online platforms, media organizations, and international development partners—all united by a shared vision to unlock Bayelsa’s economic potential through enterprise.

Apply today and let BEEP be your springboard to growth.

Empowering Bayelsa’s entrepreneurs to build, scale, and thrive in the digital economy.

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