NDE sends 39 trained construction workers to Belarus for skills transfer
The National Directorate of Employment (NDE) has secured jobs for thirty-nine trained artisans from Benue state, in the European country of Belarus, for a skills transfer program.
These artisans will be exposed to world-class construction skills and practices, which they can eventually bring back to strengthen Nigeria’s domestic capacity.
The initiative is the outcome of a collaborative effort between the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment, the Benue State Government, the Benue State Bureau of Entrepreneurship and Wealth Creation, and the private firm, Enhanced Entrepreneurs Belarus Nig. Co. Ltd.
The move is part of a federal government initiative to tackle irregular migration by creating safe, official pathways for citizens to find employment abroad.
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These workers secured jobs in the Belarusian construction sector under the National Directorate of Employment’s (NDE) International Job Placement Programme.
The scheme is one of the government’s strategies to provide decent job opportunities and curb the dangerous trend of illegal migration.
Speaking at a pre-departure ceremony in Abuja, Nkiruka Onyejeocha, the Minister of State for Labour and Employment, lauded the programme as definitive proof of Nigerian talent being globally competitive and highly sought after.
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Modelling international partnership
The minister noted that the partnership demonstrates the power of coordinated action in achieving tangible progress.
Advising the departing cohort, Onyejeocha urged them to honour their contractual obligations, show respect to their hosts, and allow their professionalism and excellence to stand as a positive testament to Nigeria’s resilience and skill.
“Our mission under the Renewed Hope Agenda is to ensure every Nigerian can access decent, safe, and sustainable work,” Onyejeocha stated.
“The International Job Placement Programme embodies that vision… by engaging globally, we exchange innovation and standards that uplift our workforce and position Nigeria as a trusted player in the global labour economy.”
Silas Agara, the director-general of the NDE, praised the Benue state government for its trust in the directorate and its partners. He made a bold statement, declaring that young Nigerians no longer need to face dangerous journeys across the Sahara Desert or risk drowning in the Mediterranean Sea to find work in Europe.
“All they need now are skills, competency, and the support of any sub-national government to benefit from the International Job Placement Programme,” he asserted.
Agara explained that the NDE’s role extends beyond creating mass employment to also include a statutory mandate to facilitate job linkages. The agency’s collaboration with Enhanced Entrepreneurs Belarus Nig. Co. Ltd., which began in 2019, has been instrumental in securing jobs for Nigerian construction workers.
Skills transfer and global standards
Agara noted that all state governments were contacted to partner in exploring opportunities within Belarus’s booming construction sector.
He stressed that the programme offers the dual advantage of immediate benefit of decent employment and an open door to the smooth transfer of skills and technology.
Expressing confidence in the workers who are the scheme’s pioneer beneficiaries, Agara emphasised the importance of them serving as worthy ambassadors of both Benue State and the Nigerian nation through their diligent conduct and discharge of duties in Belarus.
