Tinubu committed to job creation, poverty alleviation — SGF

…as NDE commences training of over 41,000 Nigerians

The Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator George Akume, has described the Renewed Hope Employment Initiative (RHEI) as a bold demonstration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s unwavering commitment to job creation, poverty alleviation, and national prosperity.

Speaking at the flag-off ceremony of the second phase of the initiative at the new Corporate Headquarters of the National Directorate of Employment (NDE) in Gudu District, Abuja, Akume declared that the programme was not just another policy announcement, but a concrete step towards fulfilling the promises of the Renewed Hope Agenda.

“This gathering is not just another event on our national calendar,” the SGF said, “it is a bold declaration of intent by the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, to deliver on his promise of a Nigeria where opportunities, productivity and prosperity are not distant aspirations, but lived realities. The Renewed Hope Agenda is a contract with Nigerians. At its core lies the unwavering commitment to economic growth, job creation, and poverty alleviation.”

He announced that under the second phase of the RHEI, the Federal Government, through the NDE, would train 41,307 unskilled and unemployed Nigerians across the country’s 8,809 electoral wards, with a minimum of four beneficiaries per ward. “This will translate to 41,307 households uplifted, the future of 41,307 persons restored, and 41,307 seeds of prosperity planted in every corner of the federation,” Akume said.

The SGF stressed that participants would receive training in over 30 demand-driven skill areas, including information and communication technology (ICT), renewable energy, agriculture, creative industries, and other modern skill sets aligned with the realities of the 21st-century economy.

Akume also highlighted the inclusive nature of the initiative, designed to equip youths, women, and vulnerable groups with practical tools to navigate the fast-changing global economy. He underscored that the programme aims to move Nigeria beyond “the era of paper qualifications to embrace skills that are marketable and align with the immediate needs of industries, businesses, and global value chains.”

He called on the organised private sector to play a vital role in the initiative’s success. “We invite you to absorb, mentor, and support these trainees because the true measure of success of this initiative lies in its seamless transition from training to enterprise,” he said, while urging the participants to take their training seriously as “torchbearers of a new Nigeria where talent meets opportunity and hard work yields prosperity.”

In his address, the Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr. Muhammad Maigari Dingyadi, hailed the commencement of the second phase as a significant milestone in Nigeria’s quest for sustainable employment and decent work. He recalled that the first phase of the programme, launched in 2024, had successfully trained 33,692 unemployed Nigerians across all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory in 30 skill sets spanning ICT, agriculture, entrepreneurship, and public works.

“The first phase was designed to enhance the impact of NDE’s core programmes by aligning them more closely with market demands and national priorities. Importantly, a significant proportion of these beneficiaries were resettled with starter packs and soft loans, enabling them to become not only self-employed but also employers of labour,” Dingyadi said.

The minister announced that the second phase would build on these successes, with the goal of empowering 41,307 new beneficiaries. “They represent a new wave of beneficiaries who will be equipped with relevant skills, enterprise opportunities, and pathways to become contributors to our national economy,” he added.

Dingyadi stressed that the government alone could not tackle unemployment, calling for collective responsibility in creating an enabling environment where jobs can flourish, businesses can thrive, and innovation can prosper. “The Renewed Hope Employment Initiative is not merely a programme; it is a symbol of the government’s promise kept,” he said.

Earlier in his welcome address, the Director General of the NDE, His Excellency Silas Ali Agara, described the launch of RHEI Phase Two as a major leap forward in the Federal Government’s vision to tackle unemployment at the grassroots. He explained that the initiative’s first phase had focused on boosting trainee employability, supporting small-scale enterprises, enhancing agricultural productivity, improving rural infrastructure, and providing short-term job opportunities.

Agara revealed that 5,532 beneficiaries of Phase One were resettled with loans and starter packs, while linkages to other credit-granting institutions were ongoing for those not captured under the initial soft loan scheme.

“In the second phase, the NDE will train 41,307 persons in over 30 different skill sets ranging from vocational, entrepreneurial, agricultural, ICT and activities in the public works sector,” he said. He further disclosed that a minimum of four persons were selected from each of Nigeria’s 8,809 electoral wards through a robust, digitised registration process.

“Arising from the experiences of the first phase, we have improved and digitised our processes through a robust online registration portal fully equipped with scalable backends and geofenced capabilities. This has made our processes more transparent, fair, and equitable, and has provided us with a credible database,” the DG explained.

Agara noted that 14,457 of the new beneficiaries were expected to receive starter packs to help them establish sustainable ventures in their chosen fields. He urged participants to take the opportunity seriously. “That you have made it this far among many applicants speaks to your potential and interest in gaining skills that can transform your future. I urge you to make every good use of this opportunity to better your life, community, and the nation at large,” he said.

The NDE boss expressed gratitude to President Tinubu, the SGF, and the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment for their unwavering support. He also acknowledged the role of the National Assembly and other stakeholders in making the programme a reality.

As the second phase of the Renewed Hope Employment Initiative kicks off, Akume reassured Nigerians of the government’s commitment to seeing it through. “President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has made it clear that Renewed Hope is not a slogan; it is a covenant with Nigerians. Today’s ceremony is proof that this covenant is alive, actionable, and irreversible,” the SGF declared.

He concluded by affirming that the administration would not relent “until the scourge of unemployment is tackled head-on, until poverty is rolled back, and until every Nigerian has a fair chance to live a life of dignity and fulfilment.”

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