NDE clarifies number of youth skill engagement

By Helen Shok Jok, Abuja

1,178

The National Directorate of Employment (NDE) in Nigeria, says its actual target of youth skill engagement is 93,731 individuals, not 900,000 as widely reported.

The NDE in a statement said that the the clarification became necessary “following information spreading across online platforms that claimed the Directorate launched an online portal to engage 900,000 youths in skills development.”

In the statement signed by the Director of Planning, Research, and Statistics of the Agency, Mr. Edmund Onwuliri, the Directorate emphasized that “while the Renewed Hope Employment Initiative is indeed underway, the actual target is 93,731 individuals, not 900,000 as widely misreported.”

Mr. Onwuliri explained that the NDE has initiated the online registration process for unskilled and unemployed Nigerians as part of the Renewed Hope Employment Initiative, aimed at providing equitable access to employment opportunities.

The scheme he further explained, plans to support a minimum of ten participants from each electoral ward across Nigeria’s 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory FCT, ensuring balanced representation and inclusion.

“This deliberate structure aims to promote fair participation across all regions and demographics.

“The initiative, covering 30 diverse skill sets, has specific provisions for women and individuals with special needs, underscoring the program’s commitment to inclusivity.

“Due to the overwhelming interest from unemployed individuals nationwide, the NDE has extended the registration deadline by an additional 48 hours.

“This extension allows more time for eligible individuals to apply, with the final registration closing at midnight on Wednesday, October 30, 2024,” he said.

The statement also clarified that its official registration portals are www.nde.gov.ng and www.nderegistrationportal.ng and enjoined prospective applicants to use the above links to avoid potential fraud from unauthorized sites.

The Directorate encouraged the public to disregard any “misleading information” and to seek verified updates directly from the official channels.

“The Renewed Hope Employment Initiative stands as a testament to the NDE’s mission to reduce unemployment through strategic and inclusive skills development,” Mr. Onwuliri said.

The federal government of Nigeria established the National Directorate of Employment on the 26th of March 1986 with a clear mandate.

This includes the provision of employment opportunities and vocational and Technical skill acquisition.

Others are Entrepreneurship development, Agribusiness promotion as well as Public Infrastructure maintenance and rehabilitation programmes for unemployed citizens, particularly the youth and undergraduates in Nigeria.

Comments are closed.