September 4, 2025 – The National Directorate of Employment (NDE) has flagged off the second phase of the Renewed Hope Employment Initiative (RHEI) to train 41,307 Nigerians in 30 different skills aimed at tackling unemployment and boosting economic growth.
The training covers vocational trades, entrepreneurship, agriculture, ICT, and public works.
Speaking at the launch in Gusau, Silas Agara, the Director-General of the NDE, said the programme aligns with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which focuses on job creation, economic growth, and poverty alleviation.
Agara, who was represented by the Zamfara State Coordinator, Hajiya Hadiza Kolo, explained that the first phase of the initiative, launched on December 6, 2024, trained 32,692 unemployed Nigerians across the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory. Out of that number, 5,532 beneficiaries were resettled with starter packs and soft loans, while others were connected to credit-granting institutions to support the start of their businesses.
He added that the second phase would benefit 41,307 participants, with 14,457 of them expected to receive starter packs at the end of their training. According to him, this will help the trainees establish themselves in their chosen fields and create opportunities for self-employment.
Agara emphasized that the registration process was fully digitalized through an online portal to ensure transparency and fairness. He noted that beneficiaries were selected from electoral wards across the country to guarantee nationwide coverage.
“It is our expectation that participants will acquire practical skills that enhance employability, nurture entrepreneurial mindsets, and ultimately improve livelihoods while contributing to community development and national economic growth,” he said.
Despite limited budgetary resources, Agara assured that the NDE remains committed to equipping unemployed Nigerians with relevant, demand-driven skills. He stated that the goal is to transform participants into wealth creators and future employers of labour.
Tasiu Musa Shinkafi, the Zamfara State Commissioner for Youth and Sports, encouraged the trainees to take the programme seriously to gain valuable skills that can change their lives.
Some beneficiaries expressed gratitude to the NDE and the Federal Government for the opportunity. A participant, Bashir Mahmood, urged his colleagues to focus on learning practical skills rather than seeking immediate financial gains, describing the initiative as life-changing.
Another trainee, Naomi Aladdin, said the training would help many Nigerians, especially women, become self-reliant and contribute to the country’s economic development. The programme has been widely praised as a vital step toward reducing unemployment and poverty nationwide.