The Federal Government has introduced the National Job Centre Project, a countrywide network of employability centres aimed at linking skilled Nigerians to genuine employment opportunities and boosting the nation’s labour market structure.
Speaking about the initiative, the Federal Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Nkeiruka Onyejeocha, described it as evidence of the government’s dedication to promoting dignified, inclusive, and meaningful work aligned with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
In a statement from her Special Adviser on Media and Communications, Tósìn Olúwalówò, the minister addressed attendees at the Mastercard Foundation Annual Nigeria Partner Convening in Lagos.
“The National Job Centres will bring together digital job matching, data monitoring, and career guidance services to establish a unified and accessible system. They’re part of a broader labour framework that enables youth to make real contributions to local industries and compete effectively internationally,” Onyejeocha explained.
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She also introduced the Labour Employment and Empowerment Programme (LEEP), a key initiative created to enhance youth employability and close the divide between training and actual job placement.
“We’re not simply trying to generate employment but to establish systems that safeguard workers’ rights, guarantee fair compensation, and improve labour market oversight,” she noted.
Onyejeocha praised the Mastercard Foundation for its collaboration through the Young Africa Works strategy, highlighting how it has equipped thousands of young Nigerians with hands-on skills, employment, and business opportunities.
“Over the last six years, your collaborations have done more than provide skills. They’ve created routes to employment, entrepreneurship, and genuine hope for thousands throughout Nigeria,” she remarked.
The minister emphasised that reaching decent and lasting employment needs cooperation from all parties, including government, businesses, and development organisations.
“Creating an inclusive and sustainable work environment takes joint commitment. We’re calling on partners to work with us in expanding job access through these platforms and improving economic results across Nigeria’s labour sector,” she stated.
Onyejeocha confirmed the ministry’s ongoing commitment to partnerships that advance job creation, social inclusion, and economic stability.
She had earlier disclosed that through LEEP, the government plans to generate 2.5 million direct and indirect positions each year, including via its Digital Nomads component, which will prepare young Nigerians to use digital skills for international remote work possibilities.
