The Federal Government has commenced the third phase of its Renewed Hope Employment Initiative in Ekiti State, opening a fresh window of opportunity for unemployed youths to acquire marketable skills and improve their economic prospects.
The National Directorate of Employment (NDE), Ekiti State Office, announced the commencement of registration for the programme during a press briefing in Ado-Ekiti on Friday, saying the initiative formed part of the Federal Government’s commitment to job creation, poverty reduction and youth empowerment across the country.
Speaking on behalf of the Director-General of the NDE, Silas Ali Agara, the Ekiti State Coordinator of the agency, Mr Orelusi Michael Omoniyi, disclosed that the online registration portal was officially opened on Thursday, 23 July, and would remain accessible until Wednesday, 29 July 2026.
Omoniyi explained that the programme was specifically designed for unemployed Nigerians between the ages of 18 and 40, urging eligible residents of Ekiti State to take advantage of the opportunity.
He said the initiative was aimed at equipping beneficiaries with practical and market-driven skills capable of promoting self-employment, entrepreneurship and sustainable livelihoods.
“On behalf of the Director-General of the NDE, I am pleased to inform the general public and the good people of Ekiti State that registration for the third phase of the Renewed Hope Employment Initiative has officially commenced.
“We are offering practical, market-driven skills acquisition across four critical sectors to equip participants for economic self-reliance. I therefore urge all interested applicants to log on to www.nderegistrationportal.ng and complete their registration before the application window closes on Wednesday, 29 July 2026,” he said.
The state coordinator disclosed that about 26,961 beneficiaries would be trained nationwide during the third phase of the initiative.
According to him, the training programmes had been structured into four major operational areas to meet current labour market demands and emerging economic opportunities.
He said the four categories included Agricultural Skills Training, which focuses on modern crop production techniques, livestock farming and agribusiness value chains; Entrepreneurship Skills Training, covering enterprise management, business planning and financial literacy; Vocational Skills Training, which offers hands-on technical and artisan skills for self-employment; and Renewable Energy Training, designed to expose participants to solar power installation, clean energy technologies and maintenance.
Omoniyi stressed that all applications from the 16 local government areas of Ekiti State must be completed online through the dedicated registration portal, adding that the registration process was entirely free.
He cautioned prospective applicants against falling victim to fraudsters, emphasising that no payment was required at any stage of the registration process.
The NDE coordinator also noted that only applicants who were successfully shortlisted would be contacted for the next stage of the programme.
He expressed confidence that the initiative would further complement the Federal Government’s efforts to tackle unemployment, reduce poverty and empower young Nigerians with practical skills required to become economically independent and contribute meaningfully to national development.
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