FG Flags off Phase Two Renewed Hope Employment Initiative
Oru Leonard
The Federal Government of Nigeria has flagged off the Second Phase of the Renewed Hope Employment Initiative (RHEI) programme, geared towards reducing the high rate of unemployment in the country.
Speaking during the flag-off ceremony at the new corporate headquarters of the National Directorate of Employment (NDE) in Abuja on Thursday, the Minister of Labour and Employment, Muhammad Maigari Dingyadi, described the occasion as the commencement of another bold attempt at improving the lives of Nigerians through skills acquisition and resettlement.
According to Dingyadi, the Second Phase of the RHEI programme, championed by the NDE, remains a significant landmark as the country continues to push the frontiers of sustainable employment and decent jobs, which rank high on global development metrics.
He announced that 41,307 unemployed Nigerians had been shortlisted to participate in this second phase of the programme, representing a new wave of beneficiaries who would be equipped with relevant skills, enterprise opportunities, and pathways to become contributors to the nation’s economy.
Dingyadi stated that the Second Phase would continue to leverage the four core programme departments of the NDE, namely Vocational Skills Development (VSD), Small Scale Enterprises (SSE), Rural Employment Promotion (REP), and Special Public Works (SPW).
The Minister recalled that the first phase, launched in 2024, was designed to enhance the impact of NDE’s core programmes by aligning them more closely with market demands and national priorities.
Highlighting the achievements made in the first phase, Dingyadi said: “Through a transparent online registration process, a minimum of 10 beneficiaries were selected from each of the 8,809 electoral wards nationwide, ensuring fairness and inclusivity.
“Thirty (30) skill sets were deployed, spanning vocational training, entrepreneurship, agriculture, and public works under the four core departments of the NDE. As a result, 33,692 unemployed Nigerians were trained in demand-driven skills over a three-month period, covering ICT, technical trades, entrepreneurship and business management, agriculture, and public works.
“Importantly, a significant proportion of these beneficiaries were resettled with starter packs and soft loans, enabling them to become not only self-employed but also employers of labour. These milestones demonstrate the success of Phase One and provide valuable lessons as we now transition into the second phase. Today, we take another bold step.”
He noted that the challenge of unemployment could not be addressed by the government alone and, hence, called for concerted efforts to create an enabling environment where jobs could flourish, businesses thrive, and innovation prosper.
According to Dingyadi, the initiative is not merely a programme, but a symbol of government’s promise kept, and a call to action for all to contribute to lifting millions out of poverty, reducing inequality, and ensuring that every Nigerian has the opportunity to fulfil their potential.
In a keynote address, the Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Nkeiruka Onyejeocha, commended the Director General of NDE, Silas Agara, his management team and the entire staff, for their tireless efforts in designing and implementing programmes that promote employment and economic growth, as well as their dedication and commitment to addressing the unemployment challenges in Nigeria.
Onyejeocha urged the beneficiaries to take advantage of the opportunities provided by this initiative and use the skills and knowledge acquired to become change-makers in their communities while contributing to the growth and development of the nation.
She called on state governments, private sector partners, and civil society organizations to deepen collaboration with the NDE, stressing that their expertise, resources, and community networks are invaluable in ensuring the success of the initiative.
Earlier, Agara had given assurance that the NDE would continue to design and implement employment creation programmes that would address the challenges of unemployment among Nigerians.
Patience Onuobia
Head, Information and Public Relations
4 September 2025
[9/4, 10:10 PM] Patience Min of labour: Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Sen. George Akume (3rd left); Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr Muhammad Maigari Dingyadi (4th right); Permanent Secretary, Labour and Employment, Salihu A Usman (2nd left); Director-General, National Directorate of Employment, Silas Agara (3rd right); Director-General, Michael Imoudu Institute of Labour Studies, Issa Aremu (right); Director-General, National Productivity Centre, Baffa Dan-Agundi (left); Secretary to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Muhammad Hammajoda (2nd right), at the flag-off of the second phase of the Renewed Hope Employment Initiative (RHEI 2), Abuja.
(FMOL Press)
