Owerri — The National Directorate of Employment (NDE) has trained more than 2,000 unemployed persons in Imo State under the Federal Government’s Renewed Hope Employment Initiative (RHEI), as part of ongoing efforts to tackle youth unemployment through skills acquisition and entrepreneurship development.
Acting Director-General of the NDE, Mr. Edmund Onwuliri, disclosed this during the resettlement ceremony for beneficiaries of the Renewed Hope Employment Initiative Phase II, held at the Federal Secretariat Hall in Owerri on Tuesday.
According to Onwuliri, 1,001 youths were trained in the first phase of the programme, while an additional 1,035 beneficiaries completed vocational and entrepreneurial training in Phase II.
“The tools and equipment you receive today should be seen as instruments for building sustainable livelihoods,” Onwuliri told the beneficiaries. “I encourage you to utilise them responsibly, apply the skills you have acquired diligently, and remain focused on your entrepreneurial aspirations. Through hard work, innovation and perseverance, you can transform small enterprises into thriving businesses that create employment opportunities for others.”
As part of the latest phase, 28 beneficiaries received business starter packs and vocational equipment to help them immediately establish their enterprises. The NDE chief noted that resettlement would continue in batches as more funds become available, due to current funding constraints.
The beneficiaries were trained in various trades, including knitting, autotronics, catering, GSM phone repairs, satellite dish installation, welding and fabrication, hairdressing, electrical installation, carpentry, plumbing, POP and wall screeding, and solar installation.
Director of Special Public Works at the NDE, Mrs. Folashade Lanre-Ogun, congratulated the beneficiaries, describing the starter packs as vital tools for building sustainable businesses and self-reliance.
In his remarks, the Special Adviser to the Imo State Governor on Local Government Affairs, Mr. Willie Ogwo, urged the beneficiaries to make the most of the opportunity, noting that their success would inspire more young people to embrace entrepreneurship.
The Permanent Secretary, Imo State Ministry of Information, Dr. Pauline Iwuagwu, also commended the NDE for equipping participants with practical skills that would improve livelihoods and contribute to the state’s economic growth.
Speaking on behalf of the beneficiaries, Mr. Chimezie expressed gratitude to the Federal Government and the NDE, assuring them that the equipment would be put to productive use.
The Renewed Hope Employment Initiative aligns with President Bola Tinubu’s agenda to address unemployment through skills development and inclusive economic growth.
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