The Federal Government, through the National Directorate of Employment (NDE), announced plans to train 90,000 youths in various skills over a three-month period. The NDE’s Director-General, Silas Ali Agara, revealed this on Tuesday during a press briefing in Abuja.
Agara explained that the initiative, which aligns with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, aims to equip young Nigerians with skills across 30 different fields. According to him, the programme will involve selecting 10 participants from each electoral ward nationwide, with the recruitment process conducted through an online portal.
“We are aiming to train over 90,000 youths across four departments, with a focus on 30 skills. The recruitment will start once our portal, which is over 90% ready, becomes functional,” Agara said. He added that the portal is expected to be operational by the end of the week, allowing interested youths to register.
Agara emphasized that the training is part of NDE’s mandate to generate job opportunities and provide hope for the country’s youth. He highlighted that the directorate would also establish an online platform for artisans, enabling Nigerians to easily access the services of trained beneficiaries.
“We are ensuring that those we train don’t end up jobless. The artisans will be listed on an application, where people can request their services at no cost to the beneficiaries,” Agara explained.
Addressing concerns about previous skills acquisition programs, Agara assured that participants in this initiative would receive more substantial settlement packages, with amounts ranging from ₦150,000 to ₦200,000. He also mentioned that the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs would supplement these packages for some beneficiaries.
The NDE plans to tailor the training to the specific needs of different environments, ensuring that the skills imparted are relevant to the local demands. While the directorate has sufficient manpower, Agara acknowledged the ongoing challenges of staff motivation and a lack of adequate tools, noting that efforts are being made to address these issues.
Agara also mentioned that the agency is currently operating from rented premises but is working toward relocating to a permanent corporate headquarters before the end of 2024.
