The federal government says it plans to create 2.5 million jobs through the Ministry of Labour and Employment’s Labour Employment Enhancement Programme (LEEP).

Nkeiruka Onyejeocha, the Minister of State for Labour and Employment, said this at the LEEP’s pre-inauguration ceremony in Abuja. She said the programme aimed to actualise President Bola Tinubu’s ‘Renewed Hope Initiative’.

‘’The LEEP vision is to train and equip 2.5 million people. In Nigeria, youth unemployment remains a pressing issue, with over 13 million young people currently unemployed. According to recent statistics, initiatives like LEEP play a crucial role in providing young people with access to training, employment opportunities, and entrepreneurial support.

“This will address the challenge of youth unemployment and promoting social inclusion. ’The initiative is a comprehensive strategy aimed at addressing key challenges facing our workforce such as job creation, skills development and migration control,’’ Ms Onyejeocha said.

Ms Onyejeocha explained that in a rapidly evolving global landscape, ensuring that the Nigerian workforce was equipped with the necessary tools and opportunities to thrive in the digital age was imperative.

The junior labour minister said the LEEP targeted zero hunger, zero poverty, economic growth, and decent jobs through six strategic initiatives. 

She mentioned that these included digital skills initiatives, vocational entrepreneurship skills programmes, infrastructure upgrades, and NELEX upgrades for employment acceleration.

Ms Onyejeocha said others were global remote work initiatives and labour compliance enhancement. She urged development partners such as the World Bank, GIZ, the European Union, UNIDO and the Bank of Industry to support the drive.

She said support was imperative for the current administration to mitigate the hardships faced by Nigerians due to the removal of the fuel subsidy.

Luri Aganetto, the EU programme manager, pledges to support the initiative for the good of the Nigerian people.

(NAN)