The Nigerian Federal Government plans to create 2.5 million jobs through the Labour Employment Enhancement Programme, LEEP.

The Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Mrs Nkeiruka Onyejeocha, disclosed this at Thursday’s pre-inaugural ceremony for the LEEP in Abuja.

She noted that in a quickly changing global environment, it was crucial to LP provide the Nigerian workforce with the essential tools and opportunities to succeed in the digital era.

She noted that the LEEP aimed for zero hunger, zero poverty, economic growth, and decent jobs through six strategic initiatives.

“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 are crucial in providing young people 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 to address key challenges facing our workforce, such as job creation, skills development and migration control,” she said.

The development comes as Nigeria’s unemployment rate surged to 5 per cent, according to the National Bureau of Statistics Third Quarter 2023 labour data.