The National Directorate of Employment has empowered over 130,000 young Nigerians through its various skills development programmes, its Director-General, Silas Ali Agara, has said.
Agara disclosed this on Tuesday during the National Skills and Industry Alignment Roundtable Series held in Abuja, where he delivered a strategic address on aligning workforce skills with labour market demands.
Speaking at the event themed “Bridging Skills Supply and Labour Market Demand,” the NDE boss commended the agency’s ongoing efforts to tackle unemployment through targeted vocational training and enterprise development initiatives.
He noted that the directorate, which operates under the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment, currently runs more than 80 skills acquisition centres spread across the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory.
According to him, the NDE has continued to strengthen its mandate by identifying existing skill gaps and deploying tailored training programmes aimed at equipping Nigerians with relevant and market-driven competencies.
Agara explained that the agency’s structure includes specialised departments focused on delivering impactful training across key sectors of the economy, ensuring that beneficiaries are better positioned for employment and entrepreneurship opportunities.
The roundtable also drew participation from key stakeholders in government and development sectors.
Vice President Kashim Shettima was represented at the event by the Deputy Chief of Staff to the President, Ibrahim Hassan Hadejia.
Also in attendance were the Head of Cooperation for the European Union in Nigeria and ECOWAS, Massimo De Luca, alongside representatives from the German development agency, GIZ.
The event was held at the Sheraton Abuja Hotel on March 24, 2026.
