The Federal Government has kicked off the second phase of the Renewed Hope Employment Initiative (RHEI) to train 41,307 unemployed youths across the country in vocational skills.
The Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator George Akume, launched the initiative yesterday in Abuja in company of the Minister of Labour and Employment, Muhammadu Dingyadi; the Director-General of the National Directorate of Employment (NDE), Silas Agara, among other government officials.
The vocational training initiative will be implemented by the NDE.
Over 400,000 Nigerians had applied for the 41,307 slots in the scheme when the registration portal was opened in July.
Agara had announced that the figure was increased from 27,000, following support from development partners
Akume, who also delivered the keynote address, described the event as a bold declaration of intent by the Bola Ahmed Tinubu administration to tackle unemployment and poverty.
He said: “This is a bold declaration of intent by the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to deliver on his promise of a Nigeria where opportunities, productivity, and prosperity are not distant aspirations but are lived realities.
“The RHEI agenda is a contract with Nigerians. At its core lies the unwavering commitment to economic growth, job creation, and poverty alleviation.
“As we launch the second phase of the RHEI, we are depending on that promise by directly addressing one of the most pressing challenges of our time – unemployment.”
The SGF announced that a minimum of four persons will be trained from each of Nigeria’s 8,809 electoral wards, covering over 30 skill areas, such as ICT, renewable energy, agriculture, creative industries, and other trades aligned to modern market needs.
Dingyadi recalled that under the first phase of RHEI in 2024, a total of 33,692 Nigerians were trained in demand-driven skills.
These, the minister said, included ICT, entrepreneurship, technical trades, agriculture, and public works, with many resettled through starter packs and soft loans.
“The second phase we are flagging off today is a direct response to the lessons of Phase One. This is about ensuring that our young people, women and vulnerable groups are not just trained but also resettled into sustainable ventures that will grow our economy,” he said.
Thenation
