FG's Renewed Hope Jobs Scheme Begins to Deliver Big Wins

By Achimi Muktar

In a significant boost for job creation and youth empowerment, the Federal Government, through the National Directorate of Employment (NDE), has successfully resettled 5,532 Nigerians trained under its Renewed Hope Employment Initiative — a bold move aimed at tackling unemployment and poverty across the country.

The announcement was made during the NDE Special Day at the ongoing 36th Enugu International Trade Fair, where the agency's impact was on full display.

According to the Director-General of the NDE, Silas Agara — represented by Edmond Owuliri, Director of Public Research and Statistics — the initiative equips unskilled and unemployed Nigerians with practical, demand-driven skills that empower them to start businesses, create wealth, and become employers themselves.

“This effort is aligned with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Tinubu’s administration,” Agara said, emphasizing the agency’s commitment to building a self-reliant population through sustainable job creation.

The resettled beneficiaries were trained in a wide range of vocational and entrepreneurial skills across various NDE programmes, including:

Small Scale Enterprises Programme – Nurturing homegrown entrepreneurs and boosting grassroots economies.

Rural Employment Promotion Programme – Supporting agricultural ventures to reduce rural poverty and encourage youth participation in farming.

Special Public Works Programme – Creating temporary public sector jobs that support local economies through infrastructure and community service projects.

Vocational Skills Development Programme – Providing technical and soft skills to improve employability and reduce the skills gap.

“These programmes have been instrumental in promoting economic growth, reducing unemployment, and improving livelihoods across Nigeria,” Agara noted.

While highlighting the NDE’s past achievements, the DG also emphasized that sustainable development cannot be achieved in isolation. He called on private sector players, civil society groups, and other government agencies to partner with the NDE to grow the SME sector and expand employment opportunities.

“Together, we can build a more inclusive and prosperous economy that works for everyone,” he said.

The president of the Enugu Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture, Odeiga Jideonwo, praised the NDE for its consistent presence and impact at the trade fair over the years.

He commended the agency’s efforts in providing Nigerians access to free training and support services that directly contribute to the growth of small and medium enterprises across the country.

As thousands of newly trained individuals begin to carve their paths toward self-sufficiency, the NDE’s latest milestone offers a glimpse of what the Renewed Hope Agenda promises — not just promises, but measurable, life-changing results.