By Ejimokun Temitope
The Managing Director, News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Ali M. Ali, has described the opening of the online portal for Phase III of the Renewed Hope Employment Initiative (RHEI) as a timely intervention to tackle unemployment.
Ali stated this in Abuja at the opening of the online institutional portal for the initiative.
According to him, the Renewed Hope Agenda is focused on restoring dignity to labour, expanding access to livelihoods and ensuring that no Nigerian is left behind in the country’s drive for inclusive growth.
Ali said the digitisation of the application process would eliminate barriers, promote transparency and bring government services closer to the people.
He stressed that the media had a critical role to play in ensuring the success of the initiative by creating awareness, explaining the application process and promoting accountability.
“Information is the bridge between policy and the people. It is the media that will amplify awareness, clarify processes and hold the system accountable to ensure that opportunities truly reach those who need them.
” As Africa’s largest news content provider, we would continue to support the initiative through credible and factual reportage,” he said.
He noted that NAN’s nationwide presence across the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory, as well as its bureaux in selected African countries- New York, South Africa and Addis Ababa, positioned it to educate and mobilise Nigerians on the programme.
Also speaking, the Managing Director of News Engineering Nigeria Ltd., Lady Josephine Nwaeze, represented by the organisation’s Training Coordinator, Mrs Miriam Anyakie, commended the National Directorate of Employment (NDE) for introducing the online registration portal.
Anyakie said the initiative demonstrated the government’s commitment to empowering Nigerians through vocational training, skills acquisition and sustainable employment.
She said News Engineering, one of the selected training centres under the programme, would provide beneficiaries with industry-relevant skills to enhance employability and entrepreneurship.
She urged eligible Nigerians to register through the portal and take advantage of the opportunities provided under the initiative.
Also the Director-General of the National Orientation Agency (NOA), Malam Lanre Issa-Onilu, pledged the agency’s support for the programme through nationwide sensitisation.
“With the presence of NOA in all the 774 Local Government Areas, we will continue to mobilise Nigerians and increase awareness of the programme,” he said. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)
Edited by Funmilayo Adeyemi