The National Directorate of Employment (NDE) has commenced the training of 1,131 unemployed youth in Akwa Ibom State under the Renewed Hope Employment Initiative (RHEI 2). The programme, which started on Monday in Uyo, is aimed at addressing unemployment and equipping participants with high-demand skills to enable them to become self-reliant.
The training will cover 30 different skills ranging from vocational, entrepreneurial, agricultural, and ICT knowledge. Speaking at the flag-off ceremony, the Director General of NDE, Mr. Silas Agara, said the initiative is designed to bridge Nigeria’s skills gap by empowering young people with relevant skills that will prepare them for self-employment and job creation.
Agara, who was represented by the Akwa Ibom State Coordinator of NDE, Mrs. Uduak Essien, highlighted the main objectives of the programme, which include supporting small-scale enterprises, boosting agricultural productivity, improving rural infrastructure, and providing temporary jobs to reduce unemployment in the country.
He explained that during the first phase of the Renewed Hope Employment Initiative, which was launched nationwide on December 6, 2024, a total of 32,692 unskilled and unemployed Nigerians were trained in demand-driven skills across the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory.
“A total of 5,532 beneficiaries were settled with loans and starter packs while linkages to credit granting institutions for those that could not be accommodated under our soft loans scheme is ongoing,” Agara stated.
He further revealed that 41,307 persons would be trained in the second phase nationwide, with 1,131 participants drawn from Akwa Ibom State. According to him, 14,457 beneficiaries across the country will be resettled with starter packs after completing their training.
In her welcome address, Mrs. Uduak Essien commended the federal government for implementing empowerment programmes that promote economic growth and development. Represented by the Assistant Director of Small-Scale Enterprises, Mrs. Udeme Udoh, she urged participants to take the training seriously for their personal progress and the overall benefit of society.
Also speaking, the coordinator of the Office of the First Lady, Mrs. Helen Obareke-Eno, expressed satisfaction with the collaboration between the federal and state governments in implementing programmes that create sustainable opportunities for the youth.
