About 1,146 youths, including women, have been selected for the second phase of the Renewed Hope Employment Initiative (RHEI2) in Kaduna State. The announcement was made by the State Coordinator of the National Directorate of Employment (NDE), Francis Ambianto, during the official inauguration of the programme on Thursday in Kaduna.

Mr Ambianto, who represented the Director-General of NDE, Silas Agara, explained that the initiative was being carried out simultaneously across the 36 states of the country and the Federal Capital Territory. He said the programme aims to provide young people with the skills and opportunities needed to become self-reliant and contribute to economic development.

“The central message of the director-general is that the youth who are successful in undergoing this programme should take it as a great opportunity because chances are limited. With the new direction of the NDE, if you participate in a programme, you cannot come back again, because the registration is tied to the National Identification Number. Once you have benefitted, you are expected to excel and not reapply,” he said.

Mr Ambianto emphasized that if the participants remain focused and committed, they would not only become self-employed but also create job opportunities for others.

He also advised the trainers to provide quality instruction while urging the trainees to respect their trainers, remain disciplined, and take the training seriously to achieve the desired results.

Speaking at the event, the Counsellor to the Kaduna State Governor on Political Matters, Ado Dogo, praised the programme, describing it as a vital step toward reducing youth unemployment in the state.

“This is a welcome initiative that will reduce idleness among youths and help them become self-independent,” he said.

Mr Dogo assured that the Kaduna State Government would continue to partner with the NDE to improve and expand youth empowerment programmes. He added that engaging young people meaningfully would improve their livelihoods and help reduce insecurity in the state.

Some beneficiaries expressed their gratitude for being selected to participate in the programme. Aisha Sambo, who applied for the Special Public Work scheme, said she felt honoured and happy to be among the selected participants. She stated that the training would support her financial growth and personal development.

Another beneficiary, Samson Elisha, an unemployed youth who applied for fish farming and feed production, also expressed appreciation. He promised to remain focused during the training to acquire skills that would help him build a sustainable livelihood.

The Renewed Hope Employment Initiative is part of the federal government’s wider plan to tackle unemployment by equipping young Nigerians with relevant skills for job creation.

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.

Over 199,000 residents of Adamawa State have received support from the Federal Government’s free cash transfer programme, according to Mrs. Mary Yuwadi, the Adamawa State Coordinator of the Social Investment Program. She announced this on Thursday during an interactive session with stakeholders at the Women Development Centre in Yola.

Yuwadi explained that the cash transfer initiative, aimed at reducing poverty, is being expanded following a directive from President Bola Tinubu. The programme, which initially targeted five million Nigerians, has now been scaled up to reach 15 million people across the country.

“This directive means that more than double the 199,000 Adamawa residents will benefit once the scale-up is fully implemented,” Yuwadi said.

She highlighted the impact of the programme, stating that each beneficiary receives a total of N75,000, disbursed in three tranches of N25,000. According to her, the funds have made a significant difference in the lives of beneficiaries.

“The beneficiaries appreciate the gesture and do meaningful things with it, small as the amount may seem to the more affluent Nigerians,” she noted.

Yuwadi further revealed that the state office in charge of identifying and registering potential beneficiaries is currently updating its records to include more eligible people for the next phase of the cash transfer programme.

Providing more details on the initiative, Patience John, the Training and Communication Officer of the Adamawa State Cash Transfer Unit, said the programme is designed to support the most vulnerable Nigerians and build resilience against poverty.

“The Federal Government is passionate about investing in social protection. Transparent targeting mechanism has been applied to ensure that intended beneficiaries are reached,” she explained.

The stakeholder meeting was part of efforts to implement the National Social Safety Net Programme Scale-Up. It was organized by the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction in collaboration with the National Social Investment Programme Agency, the National Cash Transfer Office, and the Adamawa State Cash Transfer Unit.

The session was attended by implementation desk officers from all 21 local government areas of Adamawa State, along with other stakeholders involved in the programme’s expansion and monitoring.

September 4, 2025 – Nigerians can now easily register for the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) online using just their National Identification Number (NIN). This new process allows citizens to enroll from the comfort of their homes without stress.

According to the announcement, “Be on the safe side and enjoy seamless health insurance coverage. All you need is your NIN.”

This move is part of President Tinubu’s plan to make affordable health insurance accessible to everyone. NYSC members are also included and can activate their health insurance plans online.

To get started, visit enrollment.nhiaonline.com for registration.