The National Directorate of Employment (NDE) through the Renewed Hope Employment Initiative, has empowered 446 youths , women and persons with disabilities with vocational tools and start-up loans in Akwa Ibom state.
The NDE made the empowerment at the Federal Secretariat in Uyo, the state capital on Tuesday,
The beneficiaries, who were selected from across the 31 local government areas of the state, underwent three months training in various vocational skills such as fashion design, ICT, hairdressing, and among others
Speaking at the closing ceremony of the programme, the NDE Director-General, Mr Silas Agara, commended the beneficiaries for their enthusiasm and commitment to acquiring new skills.
Represented by the State Coordinator, Mrs Uduak Essien, the DG charged the beneficiaries to utilise the vocational tools and start-up loans provided by the NDE to establish their own businesses and create jobs for others.
“Today marks a significant milestone in our collective efforts to address unemployment and promote economic development.
This initiative underscores our commitment to create a brighter future for all, where everyone has access to meaningful work and opportunity for growth.
“The Renewed Hope Employment Initiative commenced with a flag-off ceremony on 6th December, 2024, while training of selected beneficiaries started on 9th December, 2024.
“Over the past 3 months the Directorate has successfully trained 33,692 unemployed Nigerian youths, women and persons with disabilities in-demand skills across vocational skills training, entrepreneurship and business management training, agricultural skills and activities within the public works in the 36 states and the FCT.
“The initiative has calmunated into the launching of resettlement of the trained beneficiaries, the goal of which is to empower participants to become not only self-employed but employers of labour,” he added.
In her welcome address, the NDE State Coordinator, Essien re-emphasised that empowerment programme is part of the federal government’s efforts to address unemployment and promote entrepreneurship among young people in Nigeria.
Essien, represented by an NDE Staff, Mr Akan Asanga, said that out of the 5,532 beneficiaries of the empowerment across the country, 446 beneficiaries were drawn from Akwa Ibom state.
State First Lady Coordinator , Mrs. Helen Obareki commended the federal government for its efforts in curbing unemployment in the country.
Represented by Mrs. Funmi Nkanga, Eno-Obariki encouraged beneficiaries to leverage their skills to become employers of labor and continuously improve their skills to match trending demands.
A Beneficiary, Mr. Ekpono Edet, expressed gratitude to the NDE for the empowerment programme, stating it equipped him with necessary skills and resources to start his own business.