By Michael Oche
The National Directorate of Employment (NDE), has called for closer collaboration between the agency and the Delta State Government to accelerate skills acquisition, entrepreneurship development and enterprise creation, adding that such partnership is critical to tackling unemployment and empowering more youths with sustainable livelihoods.
The Acting Director-General of the NDE, Mr. Edmund Onwuliri, made the appeal during a working visit to Asaba, where he met with top state officials and presented business start-up equipment to beneficiaries of the second phase of the Renewed Hope Employment Initiative.
As part of the visit, the NDE boss also paid a courtesy call on the Asagba of Asaba, His Royal Majesty, Prof. Epiphany Azinge, where he sought the support of the traditional institution in mobilising more young people to participate in the Directorate’s employment and skills development programmes.
During the meeting with the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Dr. Kingsley Eze Emu, who represented Governor Sheriff Oborevwori, the Acting Director-General disclosed that the NDE trained 891 unemployed persons across Delta State under the first phase of the Renewed Hope Employment Initiative and expanded the programme in Phase II to 1,067 beneficiaries in vocational skills, agriculture, entrepreneurship and public works.
Onwuliri, however, noted that although 380 beneficiaries in the state were approved for resettlement under RHEI Phase II, only 33 received business start-up equipment because of funding constraints, prompting the Directorate to seek the state’s support to empower the remaining beneficiaries.
“The vision of the National Directorate of Employment remains job creation for all Nigerians. Through the Renewed Hope Employment Initiative, we are equipping beneficiaries with practical skills and providing starter packs that will enable them establish sustainable businesses and become employers of labour,” he said.
The Acting Director-General also announced that the third phase of the programme would commence in mid-July 2026 with an upgraded digital registration and management platform integrating the National Identification Number (NIN) and Bank Verification Number (BVN) to enhance transparency, accountability and payment processes.
He further disclosed that the Directorate, in collaboration with Timeterest, had developed a digital application that would enable beneficiaries market their products and services while allowing the agency to monitor the growth of their businesses.
To strengthen collaboration, Onwuliri proposed the establishment of a joint task team between the NDE and the Delta State Government to develop practical strategies for employment generation across the state.
Responding, Dr. Emu reaffirmed Governor Oborevwori’s commitment to youth empowerment and employment creation, describing the NDE as a key partner in the state’s human capital development agenda.
He pledged that the Delta State Government would support the resettlement of beneficiaries yet to receive starter packs and requested a comprehensive database containing their names, local government areas, areas of training and year of training to facilitate government intervention.
