FG Announces More Beneficiaries as It Invites Nigerians for Job Opening

• The Director General of the National Directorate of Employment (NDE), Silas Agara, announced that 411,906 Nigerians applied for 41,307 positions
• The number of beneficiaries was increased from 27,000 to 41,307 due to support from development partners in the second phase
• Training will begin in the first week of September, with about 14,000 participants to be resettled, and the NDE plans a higher intake in 2026

Legit.ng journalist Zainab Iwayemi has 5-year-experience covering the Economy, Technology, and Capital Market.

The Director General of the National Directorate of Employment (NDE), Silas Agara, announced in Abuja on Wednesday that 411,906 Nigerians had applied for 41,307 open spots in the second phase of the NDE's Renewed Hope Employment Initiative. He also mentioned that the registration portal had been shut down.

Agara said the number of beneficiaries had been increased from the initial 27,000 planned for this phase to 41,307, following interest from development partners who indicated their readiness to support the scheme.

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He reported that the North-West zone received 109,566 applications, followed by the North-East with 93,724, and the North-Central with 83,924. The South-West had 56,118; the South-South had 38,628; and the South-East had 29,946.

With more than 54,000 applications, Kaduna led the state list, followed by Yobe with 19,000 and Nasarawa with 15,000 applicants. Ebonyi had more than 8,000 applications, which was the lowest number.

Screening will take place from August 12 to 22, and the final list of qualified applicants will be released between September 1 and 2.

Training will start in the first week of September, and approximately 14,000 participants will be resettled upon completion, the NDE chief explained. Daily Sun reported that at least four beneficiaries will be chosen from each ward across the country.

The DG noted that financial firms cooperating with the NDE would support select beneficiaries. He, however, cautioned that budgetary limits meant more candidates could not be accommodated this year, pledging a higher intake in 2026.

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“At this juncture, I want to inform Nigerians that, as of the time we shut down the portal by 11:59 on Monday, August 11, a total 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 who will benefit from the Initiative from the initial 27,000 to 41,307. This is almost a hundred percent increase from the initial figure,” he stated.

FG distributes N2.25 billion to support small businesses

Legit.ng reported that Dr. Olasupo Olusi, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the Bank of Industry (BoI), affirmed that the Federal Government has disbursed N2.25 billion to support 16,696 Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) in Gombe.

The purpose of the meeting was to inform the Gombe business community about the Federal Government Loan Scheme for MSMEs and manufacturing businesses, which is worth N200 billion.

Nearly 900,000 beneficiaries in Nigeria's six geopolitical zones have received over N107 billion from the Federal Government through the BoI, according to Olusi.

Source: Legit.ng