FIC Report (Delta State) – The Director General of the National Directorate of Employment (NDE), H.E. Silas Ali Agara has charged beneficiaries of the Directorate’s Renewed Hope Employment Initiative to judiciously make use of the resettlement items given to them to enable them start their own businesses and become their own employers and job creators.
The DG give the advice during the presentation of resettlement items to the 5,532 trained beneficiaries under the Renewed Hope Employment Initiative at a ceremony held at the Federal Secretariat Conference Hall Asaba the Delta State capital.
The Director-General who was represented at the event by Mrs. Clementina O’Dwyer. a Deputy Director in the Directorate, stated that the resettlement of the beneficiaries who were already trained in various trades was held simultaneously across the 36 States of the Federation and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Abuja with a total of 5,532 beneficiaries being resettled with loans and starter packs Nationwide to enable the establishment of their own businesses.
The DG noted that the Renewed Hope Employment Initiative was designed to create employment opportunities, support the establishment of small-scale enterprises, promote agricultural productivity, improve rural infrastructure and provide jobs which would in turn foster economic growth and empower the communities.
He further noted that the employment initiative was anchored on three core pillars of; skills development which entails providing training and mentorship opportunities, equipping unskilled and unemployed persons with the skills and knowledge needed to succeed in the modern work and small-scale business environment.
The resettlement aspect he noted, was aimed at providing the beneficiaries with loan facilities, access to finance, starter packs as NDE hopes to support the establishment of nano, micro and small -scale enterprises.
On the job creation focus, NDE aims to work with local businesses, entrepreneurs and stakeholders to create new job opportunities, stimulate innovation and drive economic growth.
According to the NDE Director-General, the Renewed Hope Employment Initiative which commenced with a flag-off ceremony in December 2024, has seen the Directorate successfully trained thirty-three thousand, six hundred and ninety-two (33, 692) unemployed Nigerian youths, women and persons living with disabilities in-demand skills across vocational skills training; entrepreneurship and business management training, Agricultural skills training and activities within the Public Works Sector in the 36 States and the Federal Capital Territory.
The initiative, he noted has culminated in the resettlement of the trained beneficiaries, the goal of which he explained was to empower participants to become not only self-employed but also employers of labour.
The DG described the event as a significant milestone in the Directorate’s efforts to address unemployment and promote economic development, pointing out that it underscores NDE’s commitment to creating a brighter future where everyone has access to meaningful work and opportunities for growth.
He noted that the initiative would not have been possible without the collaboration and support of other partners.
The DG particularly expressed profound gratitude and commendation to the Honourable Ministers of Labour and Employment, the Directorate’s supervising Ministry for their support which he noted resulted in the attainment of the success being witnessed at the nationwide event.
The DG also noted that the Directorate had enjoyed the support of several organisations in the public and private sectors including the traditional institutions and the media towards the successful execution of the Renewed Hope Employment Initiative.
He concluded by urging the beneficiaries to ensure that they use the life line opportunity to establish themselves in businesses in their respective areas of training in order to engineer growth and drive economic development as he expressed optimism that the beneficiaries would in addition to being their own employers, would also employ other Nigerians as their businesses expand.
Earlier, in her welcome address, the Delta State Coordinator NDE, Mrs. Omoku, Edith Nkem expressed profound gratitude to the NDE Director-General, H.E. Silas Ali Agara for graciously approving the resettlement of the beneficiaries and making it possible for the event to hold simultaneously in the 36 States of the Federation including the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Abuja.
She noted that the basic objective of the resettlement of the beneficiaries was to enable them set up and manage their own productive ventures, create wealth, employment opportunities for others and reduce poverty in the society.
Mrs. Omoku added that the initiative was also geared towards producing multiplier effect in the labour market by not only offering employment to the beneficiaries but equally addressing the challenges of mass unemployment in the country. She therefore, called on the beneficiaries to use the starter packs judiciously.
Mrs. Omoku congratulated the beneficiaries while wishing them pleasant business experience in their respective areas of business endeavours.
The NDE Delta State Coordinator also gladly acknowledged the presence and support of the entire staff of NDE Delta State while also appreciating the media or effective reportage of their programmes.
There were goodwill messages from the Permanent Secretary, Delta State Ministry of Youth Development Dr. Ngozi Mogboli who was represented by a Director in the Ministry, Okoko Bridget.
Also, present at the event were the State Controller, Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment (FMLE), Mrs. Eucharis Ozulumba who also gave a goodwill message as well as the South -South Zonal Co-ordinator NDE, Mr. Chukwuma Jinanwa among others.
One of the beneficiaries who spoke on behalf of others, thanked President Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR, the DG NDE H.E. Silas Ali Agara and the entire Management of NDE for taking them out of the job market through the resettlement package. They promised to make effective and efficient use of the items to set up their businesses.
The highpoint of the event was the presentation of the starter packs to the beneficiaries all of whom were full of excitement and appreciation to the Federal Government and the Management of NDE.
Signed
Celestine Afokobah
FIC Asaba Delta State.
27th March. 2025.
