BENIN CITY — The Edo State Government has entered into a strategic partnership with the National Directorate of Employment (NDE) to drive youth empowerment and entrepreneurship through business mentorship and practical skills training.
The partnership, brokered by the Coordinator of the Office of the First Lady, Mrs. Edesili Okpebholo Anani, aims to support the Monday Okpebholo-led administration’s vision of building a productive economy by raising a new generation of self-reliant entrepreneurs across the state.
Speaking during an engagement with NDE officials at the Government House in Benin City, Mrs. Anani underscored the centrality of small businesses in economic growth, describing entrepreneurship as the foundation of any successful society.
“Small-scale businesses drive the economy because they begin at the grassroots, where money circulates fastest. With more locals involved in these businesses, Edo’s Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) will rise significantly and contribute to national growth,” she said.
Mrs. Anani also commended NDE’s Graduate Attachment Programme, which she said bridges the gap between education and employment by giving graduates practical experience.
She urged the agency to intensify its media campaigns, especially via radio, to reach rural communities and ensure broader participation.
She stressed the importance of empowering women, saying they play a crucial role in shaping the economy and families.
Citing the “From Farm to Table” programme, she noted the initiative has helped women embrace backyard farming, supported with tools and seeds, and incentivized with a ₦1 million prize for the best home farm.
In his remarks, NDE’s State Coordinator, Mr. James Ikanoba, outlined the Directorate’s multiple empowerment schemes across agriculture, vocational training, infrastructure, and small-scale enterprise sectors.
He revealed that the NDE caters to Nigerians with or without formal education and includes retirees and students in its programmes.
Mr. Ikanoba announced the ongoing online registration for the second phase of the Renewed Hope Employment Initiative, running from July 28 to August 11, 2025, covering four key areas: Rural Employment Promotion, Small Scale Enterprises, Vocational Skills Development, and Special Public Works.
Also speaking, Mr. Oluchi Okuone, Senior Information Officer of NDE, said job creation efforts must extend beyond white-collar jobs, emphasizing the role of artisans and informal sector workers in driving national productivity.
He said that countries like China and Singapore succeeded by investing in small businesses and vocational skills, a model Edo State is adopting through its new collaboration
