Deadline: 11-Aug-2025
The NDE Renewed Hope Employment Initiative (RHEI) Phase 2 is an effort by Nigeria’s National Directorate of Employment (NDE) to equip unemployed Nigerians with practical skills to enhance their employability and entrepreneurship. The initiative aims to bridge the country’s skills gap, empower youth with self-reliance tools, build a skilled workforce, and support national development through vocational empowerment.
The program offers various flexible training schemes targeting people aged between 18 to 45 years, depending on the specific scheme. These training opportunities span vocational, technical, digital, and agricultural fields.
Vocational skills development includes Quick-Fix schemes like soap making, bead making, and makeup; Community-Based Training in fields such as electrical installation and catering; and the School-On-Wheel initiative that takes training to rural communities using mobile workshops.
Digital skills training is also offered in digital marketing, and Cloud Computing and AI basics. Special training is available for persons with disabilities in areas like carpentry and tailoring. The Basic-National Open Apprenticeship Scheme (B-NOAS) trains youth in trades such as GSM repairs and hairdressing.
There are also programs like the Techno-Cultural Crafts Training Scheme, which teaches traditional crafts like tie-dye, blacksmithing, and drum making, with a focus on tourism and export value.
Entrepreneurial and business development support is provided through the Small Scale Enterprises (SSE) scheme. It includes business training for graduates (SYOB), entrepreneurship counselling (NDE-efcc), and the Matured People’s Programme (MPP) for older individuals.
Women are empowered through training in food processing and catering, while micro business owners benefit from the Micro Enterprise Enhancement Scheme (MEES) to strengthen their operations.
The Rural Employment Promotion (REP) component includes several agricultural training schemes, covering modern farming practices and livestock management. Programs such as the Sustainable Agricultural Development Scheme, Small Stock Production, and Organic Agriculture provide specialized training in areas like poultry, irrigation, goat farming, and composting.
Special Public Work schemes target artisans through the Artisans in Collaborative Construction Employment Scheme (ACCES), while the Graduate Coaching Scheme (GCS) engages graduates to teach students preparing for national exams. The Graduate Attachment Programme (GAP) offers internships with companies to provide temporary employment and experience.
Environmental and energy-related training schemes include the Environmental Beautification Training Scheme (EBTS) for landscaping and the Solar Energy Training Scheme (SETS) for solar design, installation, and maintenance, specifically geared toward technically inclined graduates.
NDE trainees receive free training, stipends, hands-on mentorship by professionals, and a nationally recognized certificate of completion. Graduates of the training also receive starter packs and access to low-interest business loans to help launch their ventures.
Eligibility for the program is broad. It welcomes unemployed youth, school leavers, graduates, women, persons with disabilities, artisans, farmers, rural dwellers, retirees, interns, apprentices, and small business owners who are ready to learn and build a sustainable livelihood.
For more information, visit NDE.
