NDE Targets 2026 Completion of Skill Centres in Rivers to Deepen Empowerment Efforts

The National Directorate of Employment (NDE) has reaffirmed its commitment to completing and equipping its skill acquisition and farm centres across Rivers State by 2026 as part of ongoing efforts to expand job creation and empower youths and women.

Director-General of the NDE, Silas Agara, disclosed this on Thursday during a courtesy visit to Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, at Government House, Port Harcourt. He said the move aligns with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which places youth empowerment and employment generation at the forefront of national priorities.

Agara explained that since assuming office in 2024, the Directorate has rolled out several empowerment initiatives, training over 90,000 beneficiaries nationwide. He added that an additional 500 youths from 12 local government areas in Rivers State would soon commence training, with programmes also extended to persons living with disabilities.

According to him, the Directorate is implementing targeted agricultural and technical skills programmes for rural women, as well as specialized underground welding training to prepare youths for employment opportunities in the oil and gas sector. He emphasized that all NDE processes are now ICT-enabled to ensure transparency and equal access for all Nigerians.

Agara commended Governor Fubara for his open-door policy, which he said encourages collaboration and effective implementation of federal employment initiatives. He expressed optimism that the partnership between the NDE and the Rivers State Government would further accelerate job creation and economic inclusion across the state.

In his remarks, Governor Fubara pledged his administration’s full support for the NDE’s programmes, describing the Directorate as a vital partner in tackling unemployment and driving inclusive growth. He recalled a personal encounter that reinforced his faith in the agency’s transparency, noting that his cousin secured employment through the NDE in Port Harcourt about 30 years ago without any external influence.

The governor praised President Tinubu’s commitment to job creation and empowerment through the NDE and assured that Rivers State would collaborate closely with the agency to ensure that more residents benefit from its interventions.

Fubara expressed interest in the three NDE farm centres cited by Agara and directed the State Commissioner for Employment Generation and Empowerment, Chisom Gbali, to follow up on implementation details. He also proposed the establishment of a joint state-NDE coordination team to enhance synergy and programme delivery.

Highlighting his administration’s broader economic agenda, Fubara pointed to ongoing infrastructure projects such as the Ngo-Atlantic-Oyorokoto Road in Andoni, which he said would unlock the state’s blue economy and tourism potential. He noted that access to Oyorokoto, the largest fishing settlement in West Africa, and the Ngo beach area would attract maritime investments and create thousands of jobs.

Governor Fubara reiterated that sustainable social stability can only be achieved when citizens have access to food, education, and shelter, warning that widening inequality poses a serious threat to national cohesion.

Both parties expressed optimism that the renewed collaboration between the NDE and the Rivers State Government would strengthen youth and women empowerment, foster entrepreneurship, and reduce unemployment across the state.