The Federal Government has reaffirmed its commitment to tackling unemployment in the country by expanding its renewed home employment initiative, which recently entered its second phase.
The National Directorate of Employment (NDE), in collaboration with the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), announced that the programme aims to reach even more Nigerians with improved digital processes and enhanced coordination.
Speaking at a sensitisation programme in Abuja, the Director-General of the NDE, Silas Agara, disclosed that over 30,000 beneficiaries, including women and persons with disabilities, were empowered during the first phase of the initiative. He described the pilot stage as a success despite some operational hiccups.
“We experienced some setbacks, particularly in the payment of stipends and the accessibility of training centres for participants. But we have taken those lessons seriously and are working to resolve them in this new phase,” Agara said.
The second phase of the programme, he noted, will be fully digital. A newly developed online portal will handle everything from community registration to selection, skills acquisition, and post-training empowerment. This move, he explained, is intended to simplify the process and prevent the sort of fraudulent activities that hampered parts of the previous phase.
“To guard against sharp practices and ensure transparency, unique login passwords will be distributed daily to authorised coordinators to assist legitimate beneficiaries and shut out impersonators,” he added.
The employment initiative allows participants to choose their preferred skills for training—an approach that reportedly improved retention and impact in the first phase. “The skills we provided were based on what participants wanted. That’s why after the training, most of them settled quickly and started their ventures,” Agara said.
In Ondo State alone, nearly 1,000 individuals were empowered during the first rollout. Many of them were described as formerly hopeless but were given a renewed sense of purpose through the training and equipment support.
“Some beneficiaries received equipment, and others got up to N500,000 in startup support,” said the NDE, noting that many have already begun applying their skills productively in their communities.
The NDE stressed that the digital approach will enable coordinators across the country to better monitor progress and adopt flexible timelines tailored to local needs.
With growing pressure on the government to address unemployment, particularly among youth and vulnerable groups, the Federal Government believes the improved scheme will help meet rising expectations and promote inclusive economic development.
The NDLEA, which has been a strategic partner in monitoring the programme’s integrity, also emphasised the need for vigilance as the scheme expands.
Further details on the new digital platform and community-level rollout are expected in the coming weeks.
