The Federal Authorities has launched the Nationwide Job Centre Mission; a nationwide community of employability hubs designed to attach educated Nigerians to actual job alternatives and strengthen Nigeria’s labour market infrastructure.
In keeping with an announcement issued by the Federal Ministry of Labour & Employment, the Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Rt. Hon. Nkeiruka Onyejeocha, introduced this through the Mastercard Foundation Annual Nigeria Accomplice Convening held in Lagos on Wednesday.
The initiative aligns with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda to advertise dignified, inclusive, and transformative work for Nigerians.
Explaining the aim of the brand new initiative, Rt. Hon. Onyejeocha mentioned the Nationwide Job Centres will function nationwide employability hubs that combine expertise, knowledge, and profession help to enhance job placement methods throughout Nigeria.
“The Nationwide Job Centres will combine digital job matching, knowledge monitoring, and profession advisory companies to create a harmonised and inclusive system. They type a part of a nationwide labour framework that empowers youth to contribute meaningfully to native industries and compete confidently on the worldwide stage,” she mentioned.
Along with the Job Centre Mission, the Minister unveiled the Labour Employment and Empowerment Programme (LEEP), a flagship scheme geared toward bettering the employability of younger Nigerians and guaranteeing smoother transitions from coaching to jobs.
“By way of LEEP, we’re enhancing the employability of younger Nigerians and strengthening the bridge between coaching and jobs. Our aim isn’t just to create employment however to construct methods that shield employees’ rights, guarantee truthful wages, and strengthen labour market governance,” she said.
Rt. Hon. Onyejeocha emphasised that reaching first rate and sustainable work requires robust collaboration amongst authorities, the personal sector, improvement companions, and civil society organizations.
“Constructing an inclusive and sustainable ecosystem for work requires collective effort. We invite companions to collaborate with us in driving job entry by way of these platforms and accelerating financial outcomes throughout Nigeria’s labour ecosystem,” she mentioned.
She reaffirmed that the Ministry stays dedicated to partnerships that promote employment creation, social inclusion, and financial stability consistent with nationwide priorities.
“The Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment stands able to proceed working with the Mastercard Foundation and all stakeholders to construct a future the place work is dignified, inclusive, and transformative,” she concluded.
A latest survey by the Lagos State Employment Belief Fund (LSETF) revealed that over 46,000 jobseekers competed for job openings in 2024.The findings recorded 22,630 job openings, averaging simply 2,837 vacancies per thirty days, underscoring the mounting stress within the labour market and the necessity for more practical job-matching and expertise programmes
Nevertheless, 816 jobseekers (26%) lack each training and expertise, successfully decreasing the pool of employable candidates to 2,502 people.
To shut this hole, the state authorities has rolled out a number of employment and skill-building programmes in 2025. Certainly one of it’s the Lagos State Graduate Internship Placement Programme, designed to offer younger graduates with hands-on expertise in each private and non-private sectors.
Final 12 months, the state disbursed N849,555,000 in scholarships and bursaries to 10,066 college students in its tertiary establishments to boost instructional alternatives for residents.
Particularly, N335,600,000 was designated for 1,591 beneficiaries underneath the 2022/2023 Scholarship Award and Governor’s Discretionary Awards. A further N513,955,000 was allotted to six,884 college students as a part of the 2022/2023 Bursary Award.
