The National Directorate of Employment (NDE) has officially flagged off the second phase of the Renewed Hope Employment Initiative (RHEI 2), under the leadership of its Director General, Silas Ali Agara.

The programme, a flagship initiative of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration, is designed to equip Nigerians with practical skills to boost employability and entrepreneurship.

The first phase of the initiative, launched on December 6, 2024, recorded significant impact with 32,692 Nigerians trained in demand-driven skills, while 5,532 beneficiaries were resettled with loans and starter packs. Building on that success, the second phase is targeting the training of 41,307 persons in more than 30 skill sets, with 14,457 beneficiaries expected to receive starter packs.

Speaking at the flag-off ceremony held at the NDE Corporate Headquarters in Abuja, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume, described the initiative as a call to action for all stakeholders.

“We will not relent until the scourge of unemployment is tackled head-on, until poverty is rolled back, and until every Nigerian has a fair chance to live a life of dignity and fulfilment,” he declared.

Minister of Labour and Employment, Muhammad Maigari Dingyadi, highlighted the agency’s struggles over the years, noting that for more than 25 years the NDE operated from rented accommodations not befitting of a Federal Government agency with such a critical mandate.

Also speaking, the Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Rt. Hon. Nkeiruka Chidubem Onyejeocha, represented by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Dr. Salihu Usman, described the RHEI as a national movement aimed at restoring dignity, unlocking potential, and building a prosperous future for Nigerians.

In his remarks, the NDE Director General, Silas Ali Agara, urged trainees to seize the opportunity to transform their lives, their communities, and the nation at large.

The event was attended by several dignitaries, including the Chairman, Senate Committee on Labour, Senator Diket Plang; Chairman, House Committee on Labour, Hon