FG Opens Phase III Employment Portal, Targets 26,961 Unemployed Nigerians

The Federal Government has launched the online registration portal for Phase III of the Renewed Hope Employment Initiative (RHEI), targeting 26,961 unemployed Nigerians for training in 70 demand-driven skills across the country.

The government also pledged to provide starter packs and tools to 3,405 outstanding graduate trainees upon the successful completion of their training, as part of efforts to improve employability, encourage entrepreneurship and expand access to sustainable livelihoods.

The Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr Mohammed Dingyadi, disclosed the plans while speaking at the launch of the Phase III registration portal.

Dingyadi said the initiative was designed to tackle unemployment by equipping Nigerians with practical skills and creating pathways to employment and self-reliance across the 36 states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory.

According to the minister, the government is adopting a ward-to-ward approach in the selection of beneficiaries to ensure that the programme reaches a wider cross-section of unemployed Nigerians.

He said the approach was intended to promote broader geographical coverage and ensure that opportunities under the employment initiative were not concentrated in a few locations.

However, the minister acknowledged that some beneficiaries of previous phases of the programme were still awaiting the payment of outstanding stipends and the provision of resettlement support.

He attributed the delays to funding challenges, assuring affected beneficiaries that the ministry was working with relevant authorities to address the outstanding obligations.

"I wish to assure all affected beneficiaries that this Ministry is fully aware of the matter and is working with the relevant authorities to ensure the release of the necessary funds so that all outstanding obligations can be met without further delay," Dingyadi said.

Earlier, the Director-General of the National Directorate of Employment (NDE), Silas Agara, said the registration portal for Phase III had been upgraded with features designed to make the application process more efficient and transparent.

Agara explained that applicants would be required to verify their identities using their National Identification Number (NIN), while the system had been designed to prevent multiple registrations by the same applicant.

He said successful applicants would also be assigned to training centres closest to their locations, a measure intended to make participation more accessible and reduce the challenges associated with travelling long distances to attend training.

The NDE Director-General added that the registration system would also identify persons living with disabilities and facilitate their placement in appropriate skills acquisition programmes suited to their needs and capabilities.

Providing an update on the implementation of the initiative, Agara said 32,886 Nigerians were trained under Phase I of the programme in 2024, with 4,683 beneficiaries receiving start-up tools and support.

He said a further 33,692 Nigerians were trained under Phase II but had yet to receive their resettlement support due to the non-release of the 2025 capital budget.

According to him, the funding delay has also affected the payment of outstanding stipends owed to 4,651 participants from the previous phase.

"The moment the 2025 Capital Budget is released, we will move immediately to clear every outstanding obligation," Agara said.

The NDE boss said the government remained committed to ensuring that the employment initiative achieved its objective of equipping unemployed Nigerians with relevant skills and supporting them to establish sustainable livelihoods.

He further clarified that beneficiaries of Phases I and II would not be eligible to apply for Phase III, as the latest phase is intended to extend the programme to a fresh pool of unemployed Nigerians.

The exclusion of previous beneficiaries, he explained, is aimed at expanding the reach of the initiative and giving more unemployed Nigerians the opportunity to benefit from the Federal Government's skills development and employment interventions.

The Phase III programme is expected to cover training in 70 demand-driven skills, reflecting the government's stated focus on equipping participants with practical competencies that can improve their chances of securing employment or starting small businesses.

Following the completion of the registration process, nationwide training under Phase III is expected to commence in August 2026.

The government is also expected to provide resettlement support to eligible trainees at the end of their programmes, with the aim of helping beneficiaries put their newly acquired skills into practice and transition from training to productive economic activity.

The launch of the latest phase comes against the backdrop of persistent concerns over unemployment and the rising demand for practical skills and job opportunities among young Nigerians.

By expanding the Renewed Hope Employment Initiative to another 26,961 participants, the Federal Government said it hopes to strengthen its response to unemployment while improving access to skills training and entrepreneurship opportunities across the country.