The Federal Government announced on Friday its plan to train 40,000 Nigerians in Information Communication Technology and digital skills as part of the Renewed Hope Employment Initiative.
By providing participants with necessary skills, the programme, which is overseen by the National Directorate of Employment, seeks to solve unemployment nationwide.
Out of the 93,731 beneficiaries, 3,000 slots have been allocated to persons with special needs.
At the official launch held at the NDE Federal Capital Territory Skills Acquisition Center in Kuduru, Bwari Area Council, Abuja, the Director General of the NDE, Silas Agara, highlighted the programme’s inclusivity and scope.
“Each state of the federation, including the FCT, is expected to have 81 slots specifically reserved for persons with special needs,” he said.
Agara added that many beneficiaries will transition into entrepreneurial roles through the provision of tools, equipment, and startup capital,while others will be linked to credit-granting institutions for further support.
According to Agara, “The current employment initiative has been designed to engage a total of 93,731 unskilled and unemployed persons across Nigeria. Inclusiveness has been a cardinal consideration as we designed this programme.”
We have ensured that a minimum of 10 persons from each of the 8,809 electoral wards in Nigeria were recruited to benefit from the 30 skill sets across our four core programmes: vocational skills development, small-scale enterprises, rural employment promotion, and special public works.”
He emphasized the programmes focus on diverse groups, including school leavers, women, retirees, graduates, and persons with special needs.
He further assured that the directorate has integrated cutting-edge technology to ensure the program’s effectiveness.
“I am delighted to inform you that 40,000 out of the 93,731 persons enrolled in this programme will be receiving ICT and digital skills training,” Agara said.
“This is a deliberate step by the NDE to equip our youths with emerging skills that will enable them to become globally competitive.”
The programme represents a calculated step by the government to lower unemployment and build young people’s ability in a technologically advanced society.