Governor Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers State has committed his administration to a comprehensive partnership with the National Directorate of Employment (NDE) to boost job creation and enhance empowerment opportunities for women and youth across the state.
Governor Fubara made the pledge on Thursday during a courtesy visit by the NDE Director-General, Silas Agara, and his delegation to the Government House in Port Harcourt.
The governor confirmed that the state will work closely with the NDE to ensure that federal employment and empowerment initiatives reach a larger segment of the Rivers population.
He commended President Bola Tinubu’s efforts in promoting job creation through the agency, noting that such initiatives deserve strong backing from state governments.
Fubara shared a personal anecdote to express his confidence in the NDE’s integrity, recalling that his cousin secured a job through the Directorate in Port Harcourt about 30 years ago, purely on merit.
He described this as proof that transparent processes can be transformative and expressed optimism that the NDE would continue prioritising fairness.
Acknowledging the current economic difficulties, the Governor stressed the importance of renewed hope, emphasising Rivers State’s strategic position due to its seaports, international oil companies, and growing population.
Fubara directed the State Commissioner for Employment Generation and Empowerment, Chisom Gbali, to obtain detailed information on the three NDE farm centres mentioned by the Director-General, signalling the government’s interest in follow-up action.
He also praised the NDE’s focus on women’s empowerment, calling them a vital, yet often neglected, group in development and migration processes.
To enhance coordination and effectiveness, Fubara proposed the formation of a joint state-NDE team and urged the NDE to work closely with the state’s Ministry of Employment.
Highlighting his broader economic vision, the Governor referenced ongoing projects like the Ngo-Atlantic-Oyorokoto Road in Andoni, which is intended to unlock the state’s potential in the blue economy and tourism.
He noted that opening access to the Oyorokoto fishing settlement (reputed to be the largest in West Africa) and the Ngo beach area would attract maritime investments and generate jobs.
Fubara noted that true social stability requires that the less privileged have access to basic needs like food, education, and shelter, warning of the societal danger posed by widening inequality. Earlier, Agara commended Fubara’s open-door policy for fostering collaboration.
Agara explained that since he assumed office in 2024, the agency has rolled out several phases of youth empowerment under the Renewed Hope Agenda, successfully training and engaging over 90,000 beneficiaries nationwide.
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Agara announced upcoming plans to train an additional 500 youths from 12 local government areas and to extend opportunities to persons living with disabilities.
The NDE is also implementing agricultural and technical skills training for rural women, as well as specialised underground welding training for youths targeting employment in the oil and gas sector.
The Director-General expressed confidence that the NDE’s skill acquisition and farm centres in Rivers State would be fully completed and equipped by 2026, assuring that all NDE processes are ICT-enabled to ensure transparency and equal access.
He reaffirmed the NDE’s dedication to partnering with the Rivers State Government to expand job creation and reduce unemployment.
