The National Directorate of Employment (NDE) has embarked on a nationwide registration process geared towards capturing the details of unemployed individuals in Nigeria and involve them in productive activities.
According to Ifeoma Ezekwe, the coordinator of the agency in Enugu, the registration is open to all unemployed Nigerians, regardless of their educational qualifications.
Ms Ezekwe who spoke to newsmen on Friday revealed that the registration is taking place simultaneously across all 774 local government areas, including the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja.
“The country cannot plan without data, data is very important in planning,” stated Ms Ezekwe, emphasizing the significance of the exercise.
“The NDE seeks to gather comprehensive data on the unemployed population to aid in effective planning and enable the engagement of individuals in profitable ventures.
“By doing so, the agency aims to combat crime and stimulate economic development.”
Since its establishment in 1987, the NDE has been committed to reducing unemployment and empowering individuals to become self-employed or employers of labor.
Ms Ezekwe highlighted the four key programs offered by the NDE, which include vocational skills, small skills enterprises, rural empowerment, and special public works.
These programs provide training and support to individuals, enabling them to acquire valuable skills and create opportunities for themselves.
While the NDE remains dedicated to its mission, the agency has faced challenges such as funding constraints and the naira re-design policy implemented by the Central Bank of Nigeria.
However, Ms Ezekwe expressed optimism that the NDE would be able to fulfill its mandate of reducing unemployment and fostering economic growth.
In light of their efforts, the NDE coordinator called upon the state government to lend their support by providing vehicles.
The vehicles would facilitate the agencies access to hard-to-reach local government areas (LGAs), enabling effective outreach and intervention to address unemployment challenges across the country.
