NDE Shuts Vocational Training Portal with over 411.906 Applications Received

The National Directorate of Employment (NDE) has closed the portal for vocational training for unemployed Nigerians under the second phase of the Renewed Hope Employment Initiative, (RHEI) of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

The portal was opened on July 28 for Nigerians to register for the training programme.

At the close of the portal on Monday, 411,906 unemployed Nigerians between the age of 18 and 45 years had applied for the programme.

Only 41,307 successful applicants will participate in the programme slated for September at the conclusion of screening. 

Director-General of NDE, Silas Agara disclosed this in Abuja when he addressed journalists on Wednesday.

The Renewed Hope Employment Initiative was launched as a flagship effort under the current administration to combat unemployment by equipping unskilled Nigerians with relevant vocational skills and tools to become self-reliant.

About 93,000 Nigerians benefited from the first phase of the initiative implemented across the country. 

He said that the initial plan was to engage 27,000 persons but increased the number of prospective beneficiaries to 41,307, as a result of some development partners who indicated interest to support the programmes. 

Giving a breakdown of applicants, the DG said that about 109,566 applications were received by the agency from the Northwest; 93,724 from Northeast; 83,924 North Central; 56,118 from South West; 38,628 South -South and 29,946 from the South East.

He added that about 14,000 applicants of the 41,307 will be settled by the agency after the vocational training.

Agara said, “At this juncture, I want to inform Nigerians that as at the time we shut down the portal by 11:59 on Monday 11 August, a number of 411,906 persons successfully applied for the employment programme. And prior to some development partners who have indicated interest to support NDE, we have also increased the number of those that will benefit from the Initiative from the initial 27,000 to 41,307. This is almost a hundred percent increase from the initial figure.

“Across the 37 States of the Federation including FCT, the selection process has started and at least 4 persons from each electoral ward will make the list of the beneficiaries. The NDE is ensuring transparency in the whole process and that we can bet you on.

“We told you earlier that everything about this programme will be done via online, therefore we are ensuring that it is only those who registered online and meet the required criteria that will be selected.

“Processing of applications commenced from 12 August and will last till 22 August, 2025. Final approval of the application and notification of the selected participants and posting will be done from 25 to 29 August, while the flag office of the training will be conducted on September 4 nationwide and this will herald the commencement of the training.”

Agara said that the employment training programme was opened to all Nigerians to apply including persons with disabilities. 

“Therefore, every Nigerian who has applied will be given equal opportunity accordingly to benefit from the Initiative,” he added.