What Nigerians should expect from NDE—DG, Silas Agara

The Director General of the National Directorate of Employment (NDE), Mr Silas Agara, at the flag off IT training for the Directorate’s staff, told journalists about the underground plans of the agency, while he hailed the recently concluded first phase of the Renewed Hope Employment Initiative (RHEI) CHRISTIAN APPOLOS, brings excerpts…

Why is this training so important and why is it coming at this point in time?

This training is very critical, especially in the area of ICT and the growing role of technology in our operations. You may recall that we recently concluded the Renewed Hope Employment Initiative (RHEI), which was flagged off on December 6 last year. For the first time, registration was conducted online, marking a significant shift from the manual processes the National Directorate of Employment (NDE) was known for, to a digital system that ensures all Nigerians, not just a privileged few, can access NDE programmes.

However, as we transitioned online, we discovered that our staff lacked sufficient ICT capacity, and the equipment necessary to support the new system was not readily available. We had to rely on other sister agencies and industry partners to help us execute the programme. But this is not sustainable. Since NDE is known for delivering skill-based programmes, we must build our own internal capacity and ensure our staff are well-equipped to support digital operations.

It’s illogical to train others in ICT when our own house is not digitized. That’s why we’re leveraging our in-house resources to deliver this training nationwide. Both the staff and the beneficiaries they serve will gain from this effort. With our systems online, we no longer need physical job centers in every state. Our job centers will be digital. We’ll be able to show Nigerians how many people have registered for training opportunities and provide credible statistics on our impact.

We have deliberately assembled over 100 young staff members here in Abuja to go through the training. The rest will join online. This is the foundation of what we aim to achieve going forward

The underground plan for us is to reposition NDE to be able to equip, especially the Nigerian youths with relevant skills, so they can be gainfully engaged and contribute to the economic growth of Nigeria.

 

Is this going to be routine training, and what should Nigerians expect from NDE going forward?

Capacity building is not a one-time event. At NDE, we conduct capacity training quarterly. So this training will not be a one-off thing. With a clear direction of what we want to achieve, this current training is tailored to equip our staff with specific digital competencies. As the system is put to use, we will identify gaps and adjust accordingly.

We don’t expect staff to perform miracles without the right tools and training. We must provide them with both the skills and the working materials needed to deliver on their mandate. So Nigerians should expect efficiency and effectiveness from the NDE, a digital skills hub.

 

Since the NDE was established over 30 years ago, the employment landscape has changed significantly. What then is the new mandate of the NDE now that you’re digitalising staff skills?

A lot has changed since the establishment of the NDE 35 years ago. Back then, the focus was on trades like autotronics, welding, fabrication, and traditional fashion design. Even in fashion design now, we’ve evolved, incorporating a more structured modelling approach within our system.

Now, with digital operations gaining prominence, we’ve resolved internally that at least 60 percent of our resources will go towards developing digital skills. The success of the last programme in the digital space proves that we are on the right path.

Looking ahead, we plan to focus more on AI-related skills. We recently held a two-day strategic meeting with all state coordinators and directors, during which we reviewed our past programmes, challenges, efforts and outlined programmes for the second phase. The emphasis is on IT skills that will benefit young Nigerians.

That’s why this staff training is crucial. Once completed, we’ll be in a strong position to announce the second phase of the RHEI programme. We are confident that our system will be able to handle the expected volume of traffic, and we can provide accurate data on registrants across the country.

The first phase of the Renewed Hope Employment Initiative showed that NDE is reclaiming its role in youth skills development. Nigerians now have high expectations, and we cannot rely on the same capacity that served the first phase. We must upgrade our system to meet future demands. With the alarming numbers of unemployed Nigerians and NYSC graduates, it is no longer optional for NDE to remain where it was. We must change our strategies and it’s urgent. We must tighten our belts and support the President in achieving the Renewed Hope mandate.

 

What feedback did you receive from the just-concluded RHEI that trained over 93,000 unemployed Nigerians?

We received encouraging reports from across the states. Many of the NGOs that partnered with us in monitoring the programme submitted very positive feedback. The beneficiaries they interviewed also gave good responses. That said, there were one or two challenges, which is why we held a review meeting to address those areas and improve future implementation. Nigerians now have renewed expectations from the NDE, and we are determined to meet them.

We plan to introduce youth-attractive skills that align with today’s realities. We know many graduates are out there, just seeking a foothold; something they can hold onto. NDE must be that bridge through skill acquisition and entrepreneurship.

From our research, not everyone acquiring a skill wants a starter pack. Some are good to go once they gain the knowledge. I’m pleased with the quality and zeal of our staff, and we are committed to repositioning NDE to serve Nigerians better under the Renewed Hope Agenda.

 

Who are you collaborating with to further drive youth skills development at NDE?

We are currently engaging with a number of government agencies. While some partnerships are still at early stages, others have progressed significantly.

One of such mature partnerships is with the Ministry of Petroleum through the Nigerian Gas Expansion Project. We are close to finalizing that collaboration. We’re also in discussions with the Presidential Committee on CNG, and we will soon announce our joint plans publicly.

Beyond government, we are talking to IT-focused NGOs, including those with international reach. Our goal is to roll out a new wave of programmes before the end of May. That’s why we’ve been reviewing our past activities in collaboration with all our state coordinators, they’re our frontline implementers, the foot soldiers of NDE.

 

What major challenges have you encountered so far?

The RHEI was NDE’s first programme to require youth to register via an online portal instead of using physical forms. That shift presented challenges, especially for staff who were not well-versed in IT.

We had to reassign IT staff from headquarters to various states to keep the process running. That’s exactly why this ICT training is taking place for all state IT teams and headquarters staff. We need to get it right with technology. It’s the way forward, and once this training is completed, we’ll be in a much better position to equip our state offices and roll out the second phase of RHEI effectively.

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