The Federal Government, through the National Directorate of Employment (NDE), has flagged off the second phase of the Renewed Hope Employment Initiative (RHEI), designed to equip 41,307 unemployed Nigerians with demand-driven skills in entrepreneurship, vocational trades, agriculture and other labour-intensive sectors.
In his keynote at the orientation ceremony, the NDE Director-General, H.E. Silas Ali Agara, represented by the NDE Ogun State Coordinator Mr. Ilori Olakunle stated that “It is my pleasure to welcome you to the activities marking the commencement of the second phase of the Renewed Hope Employment Initiative”. In 2024, the Directorate made significant strides in fulfilling it’s mandate of Employment generation in Nigeria by Alligning with the Renewed Hope Agenda of the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR. The Renewed Hope Agenda among other objectives emphasizes economic growth, job creation and poverty alleviation.
The State Coordinator disclosed that a total of 28 successful applicants selected through an open and transparent online application process have commenced training at designated centres across the state. The participants will undergo one month of theoretical component and two months of practical component including the establishment of a demonstration farm.
He underscored the need for seriousness and regular attendance, noting that these are key conditions for the payment of stipends and other empowerment benefits at the end of the training.
In his address, the HOD of REP department Mr. Omitogun Azeez Ayodeji stated that the programme is being implemented under the Rural Employment Promotion (REP) department with beneficiaries enrolled in schemes such as the Community-Based Agricultural Training Scheme (CBATS), Organic Agricultural Training Scheme (OATS), Micro-Livestock Agricultural Training Scheme (MATS), Small Stock Production Training Scheme (SSPTS) for goat, sheep and ram rearing, Fish Farming and Feed Formulation Technique (FF&FFT), and the Sustainable Agricultural Development Training Scheme (SADTS).
A Job Center Unit officer, Miss. Adekunle Adebisi counseled the participants to be a good ambassador of NDE during and after the training. She said that the participants should count themselves lucky to have been chosen out of the huge number of applicants that applied for the program.
A participant, Mr. Ademola Qozeem appreciated NDE and the Federal government of Nigeria for the thoughtful opportunity given to them. He promised that they will make good use of the training positively.
