FG Focuses on Digital Skills Training for Youth, Launches 93,731 Renewed Hope Employment Initiative to Create Jobs

Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Nkeiruka Onyejeocha, said the current focus of the federal government was to accelerate the training and equipping of unemployed youths towards acquiring knowledge in digital skills and information technology.

Onyejocha spoke at the launch of the 93,731 Renewed Hope Employment Initiative (RHEI) at the National Directorate of Employment (NDE), Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Skills Acquisition Centre, Kuduru, Bwari, in Abuja at the weekend.

Meanwhile, a Nigerian social entrepreneur, Mr. Olusoji Oyawoye, also weekend, said there still existed a lot of opportunities for the youth in the country despite negativity and hopelessness being portrayed by many in the society.

Oyawoye urged the youth

to come out to exhibit their potential, which were capable of advancing the socio-economic development of the country.

Onyejocha said the job initiative was a bold attempt at providing decent employment opportunities for the unemployed and unskilled in Nigeria through the vehicle of skills acquisition training in both traditional and emerging skills.

The minister, represented by Director of Skills Development and Certification, Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment, Engr. Tiza Shaakaa, commended NDE for aligning with modern work skills, digitisation, which was in line with the new world of work.

She said, “I am informed that great care has been taken in designing this programme in order to cater for the needs of diverse unskilled and unemployed persons in Nigeria.

“It is exciting to know that women, persons with special needs and matured persons have been adequately provided for while also ensuring that the youth have been given a pride of place.

“Equally, the number of persons who will benefit from the ICT digital skills training speaks to the fact that the employment creation strategy of NDE is shifting towards the 21st century skills.

“This paradigm shift has the potential to accelerate the training and equipping of the next generation of Nigerians that will drive the emerging concept of the new world of works which thrives significantly on ICT and digital skills and know-how.”

The minister also said special attention would be paid to women, persons with special needs and matured persons.

While flagging off the initiative, Minister of Labour and Employment, Muhammad Dingyadi, said it would target training about 40,000 Nigerians in Information Communication Technology (ICT) and digital skills.

Represented by Director Overseeing the office of the Permanent Secretary, Labour, Mr. John Nyamale, Dingyadi said the federal government would continue to provide sound policies and funding needed to create more jobs and empowerment opportunities for Nigerians.

The initiative was carried out in partnership with the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation.

About 3,000 slots out of the 93,731 beneficiaries of the scheme under the supervision of NDE had been reserved for persons with special needs.

Dingyadi said, “This initiative connects deeply with the aspiration of the current government at the centre, which seeks to provide jobs for Nigerians as a means of addressing our economic challenges.

“Through the instrumentality of skilled acquisition training across several sectors, I was informed that the NDE will be reaching out and touching unemployed person in the next three months

“I admonish the beneficiaries to take maximum advantage of the opportunity the programme offers.”

Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Professor NentaweYilwatda, represented by Odii Barry, said the initiative was one of the current administration’s strategies to remove 10 million Nigerians living in Nigeria from poverty.

Yilwatda stated, “You will agree with me that if 93,731 persons are gainfully employed, productively working, they are out of the poverty level. For that reason, the Ministry has no choice but to continue to collaborate with the NDE in order to get lots of Nigerians out of the poverty level.”

Director General of NDE, Honourable Silas Agara, explained that out of the 3,000 slots reserved for persons with special needs, each state of the federation, including the FCT, was expected to have 81 slots.

According to him, some of the beneficiaries would be resettled into productive entrepreneurial lives through the provision of tools, equipment and start-up capital. He added that discussions were ongoing with credit granting institutions to ensure every beneficiary of the scheme was settled.

“The current employment initiative has been designed to engage a total of 93,731 unskilled and unemployed persons across Nigeria,” he said.

In Ilorin, the Kwara State capital, Nigerian social entrepreneur, Mr. OlusojiOyawoye, expressed his position on bountiful opportunities for youths, during the commissioning of a workplace and lifestyle project, called House 12, built by him.

The edifice was commissioned by the state deputy governor, Chief Kayode Alabi, and other well-wishers.

Oyawoye said the Nigerian youth could aspire to be what they wanted to be in life, adding that they need to have positive mind-set and relate with people with the right and positive attitude.

He advised the youth to be careful who they associated with in order not to be misguided.

Oyawoye said, “You should relate with people with right ambition and positive mind-set because you’re a product of your environment.

“Second, look inward and find out what are your strengths and passion beyond the academic.”

He added, “You may have a fantastic grade but someone with lower grade and with right connection may get the deal.

“There’re lots of negativity in the society. But focus on the positive side, which are also there.

“Browse internet for opportunities for personal growth like free professional trainings or paid ones. Access knowledge, trainings on vacation or ideas on internet.”

The social entrepreneur said three factors were tied to one’s purpose in life, “First, is your identity, that’s who you are. Two, is influence, which comes from our identity. Who you are informs who you would influence.

“Three, is your income stream. So, I urge our youth to try find their purpose in life. Because a life without purpose is a miserable life.”

Talking about the workspace project, Oyawoye, who is one of the five sons of the first Accountant General of Kano State, said House 12 was a family house that was later turned to orchard and now made into a workspace and lifestyle project.

According to him, “It’s a give-back to the community. House 12 offers functions that include shared workspaces designed for maximum productivity and collaboration, versatile meeting rooms ideal for intimate gatherings or professional workshops, and a spacious event hall capable of hosting a wide range of celebrations and corporate functions with a capacity of 150 to 200 guests.”

He also said the services were tailored to meet the needs of remote workers, tech enthusiasts, start-ups, creatives, students, and event hosts in the heart of Ilorin.

“Our commitment to fostering creativity and innovation extends to our content creation and photoshoot spaces, designed to provide the perfect backdrop for capturing captivating visuals and engaging multimedia content,” he said.

Onyebuchi Ezigbo and Hammed Shittu

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