The National Directorate of Employment (NDE), under its Renewed Hope Employment Initiative, in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, held an orientation and flag-off ceremony for the participants of 93,731 jobs across Abia State.
The event, which took place on Friday, at the Evermore Event Centre, Olokoro Road, Isi-Court, Umuahia, is part of the Federal Government’s ongoing efforts to address unemployment and empower Nigerians with meaningful work opportunities.
Delivering the keynote address, the Director-General of NDE, Silas Agara, represented by the Abia State Coordinator, Mrs. Tessy Wachuku, outlined the initiative’s objectives saying the orientation “signposts the first step in the execution of the President’s directives.
“The Renewed Hope Employment Initiative is our modest short-term effort at checking the scourge of unemployment in Nigeria,” he said.
He further disclosed that the initiative aims to engage a total of 93,731 unskilled and unemployed persons nationwide, with a minimum of 10 beneficiaries from each of the 8,809 electoral wards.
“We have ensured inclusiveness by providing opportunities for school leavers, dropouts, women, graduates, retirees, and persons with special needs,” he added.
Beneficiaries will receive training in 30 skill sets under NDE’s four core programs: Vocational Skills Development, Small Scale Enterprises, Rural Employment Promotion, and Special Public Works.
Highlighting the importance of technology, the DG noted, “40,000 participants will receive training in ICT and digital skills, a deliberate step by the NDE to equip our youths with emerging skills that will enable them to become globally competitive.”
He also commended the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation for their support through the provision of starter packs for beneficiaries.
The Abia State Coordinator, Mrs. Tessy Wachuku, expressed gratitude to the Federal Government for transforming NDE into a digitized system.
“This initiative is happening simultaneously across all 36 states. As long as your name was registered on the portal, you are included in the program,” she said, clarifying that only underage applicants or those outside the specified age bracket of 18-35 years were excluded.
Representing the Chief of Staff to the Governor, Pastor Caleb, the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Special Duties, Dr. Judge Chidozie, delivered a goodwill message titled Thinking Outside the Box for a Productive Life.
He encouraged participants to take the program seriously, adding, “The state is ever ready to collaborate and provide the immediate support required to back you up as soon as you’re done with the training.”
The South East Director of NDE, Godwin Ogbonna, urged participants to seize the opportunity and make judicious use of the training. Similarly, Mrs. Abiakam Gloria emphasized the importance of skills, stating, “If you have all the certificates but cannot place food on your table, they are useless.”
Participants expressed gratitude to the government and NDE for the opportunity and pledged to make the most of the training. A beneficiary remarked, “This initiative has given us hope. We are ready to work hard and succeed.”
NewsNGR reports that the event featured notable dignitaries, including the Head of Vocational Skills Development, Chinyere Onyenkwere; Head of Special Public Works, Architect Michael Ubani; Head of Collaboration Unit, Nwabueze Armstrong among Others including Chinenye Ahukanna from Small Scale Enterprises and Mrs. Chinwe Owurum from the Information Department.
The program’s ultimate goal is to equip beneficiaries with practical skills and sustainable livelihood opportunities, with outstanding participants set to receive tools, equipment, and startup capital.
Others will be linked to credit-granting institutions for additional support. The Initiative is expected to significantly impact Abia State’s socio-economic development and contribute to reducing unemployment nationwide.