(DDM) – The National Directorate of Employment (NDE) has announced plans to train 41,307 Nigerians in more than 30 different skill sets under the Second Phase of the Renewed Hope Employment Initiative.
Diaspora Digital Media (DDM) gathered that the nationwide programme will cut across vocational, entrepreneurial, agricultural, ICT, and public works-related activities to address unemployment and poverty reduction.
The initiative is designed to reach all 8,809 electoral wards across the country, with a minimum of four persons selected per ward.
Officials explained that this inclusive model was adopted to ensure equitable participation across states and local government areas.
The Second Phase of the Renewed Hope Employment Initiative was officially flagged off in Rivers State on Thursday, September 4, 2025.
Speaking at the event, the Director General of NDE, Mr. Silas Agara, represented by the Rivers State Coordinator, Mr. Matthew Amala, highlighted the administration’s commitment to job creation.
Agara said the economic policies of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu emphasize economic growth, employment generation, and poverty alleviation.
He disclosed that under the first phase of the scheme, 32,692 unskilled and unemployed Nigerians had already been trained in demand-driven skills across the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory.
According to him, the ongoing phase will further empower thousands with practical skills needed for self-reliance and employability.
Agara revealed that 14,457 beneficiaries from the training scheme will be resettled with starter packs to enable them to establish their trades.
He urged participants to maximize the opportunity, stressing that skills acquisition remained the pathway to financial independence.
The South-South Zonal Director of the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN), Mr. Lucky Obarein, commended President Tinubu for creating avenues for Nigerians to develop sustainable livelihoods.
Obarein described the programme as a practical demonstration of government’s effort to tackle unemployment and restore confidence among youths.
The Rivers State Chairman of the National Association of Small and Medium Scale Enterprises (NASME), Elder Dogala Sakpege, also addressed the gathering.
He encouraged beneficiaries to take full advantage of the skills training, warning that failure to utilize the resources would amount to wasted opportunity.
From Rivers State alone, out of 7,000 applicants, 1,000 beneficiaries were selected for Phase 2.
These candidates are expected to begin training next week in 30 different skills.
Training will take place across 46 centres in Rivers State to accommodate the large number of participants.
Officials said the curriculum would cover vocational trades, ICT-based innovations, small-scale agribusiness, and entrepreneurial development.
Analysts believe the initiative could significantly reduce unemployment if beneficiaries properly apply their training and utilize government-provided starter packs.
Observers, however, stress that monitoring and mentorship are critical to sustaining the momentum of the programme.
The NDE has assured Nigerians that monitoring mechanisms are in place to track progress and ensure transparency.
For many unemployed Nigerians, the initiative represents a lifeline and a chance to escape poverty through practical empowerment.
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