In a bold step under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Employment Initiative (RHEI 2), the National Directorate of Employment (NDE) in Sokoto has launched training for 72 participants in the Environmental Beautification Training Scheme (EBTS) and Solar Energy Training Scheme (SETS).
This follows the earlier rollout of RHEI 2, where NDE began equipping over 1,072 unemployed youths in Sokoto with diverse skills, including vocational, entrepreneurial, agricultural, ICT, and public works programs.
Speaking on behalf of NDE Director General Silas Agara, Sokoto State’s Acting Coordinator, Malam Lukman Abubakar, hailed the initiative’s progress at the start of RHEI 2’s second phase in 2025, underscoring the agency’s commitment to job creation across Nigeria.
“By aligning with the Renewed Hope Agenda of the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR.
“The Renewed Hope Agenda among other objectives, emphasizes economic growth, job creation and poverty alleviation. Leveraging this lofty ideal, the NDE with the active support of the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment embarked on the Second Phase of the Renewed Hope Employment Initiative (RHEI 2).
“The strategic goals of these trainings were increasing trainee employability, supporting small-scale enterprises, promoting agricultural productivity, improving rural infrastructure and providing transient jobs.”
Abubakar noted that EBTS and SETS trainees were selected from all 36 states of the federation, plus the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), with at least four participants drawn from each of Nigeria’s 8,809 electoral wards to promote nationwide inclusivity.
“Furthermore, a total number of 14,457 beneficiaries are expected to be resettled with starter packs to help them establish themselves in their chosen fields.
“At the end of the second phase of the RHEI 2, it is our sincere expectation that the participants would be equipped positively with skills to enhance their employability, foster entrepreneurship mindsets in them and improve livelihoods to contribute to their communities and the economic growth of the Nation,” he added enthusiastically.
In his welcome address, Sokoto State’s NDE Head of the Special Public Works Department, Malam Jibril Yinusa, reaffirmed the agency’s dedication to generating decent jobs for Nigerians.
He urged participants to stay committed and punctual throughout the training to maximize its benefits.
