National Directorate of Employment (NDE): Programmes, Offices, Addresses and How to Register
Many Nigerians may not be familiar with the National Directorate of Employment (NDE), a federal government agency established to address unemployment in Nigeria through employment-generation programmes, skills acquisition, entrepreneurship development and other interventions.
The National Directorate of Employment is statutorily responsible for designing and implementing programmes to combat mass unemployment. It also develops labour-intensive work programmes, maintains a database of employment opportunities and vacancies, and helps connect job seekers with available opportunities.
The NDE operates under the supervision of the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment and has a presence in all 36 states of Nigeria and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
History of the National Directorate of Employment
The Federal Government’s concern about the social effects of high unemployment led to the establishment of the Chukwuma Committee in 1985. The committee was tasked with developing strategies for creating mass employment opportunities in Nigeria.
Following its recommendations, the Federal Government approved the establishment of the National Directorate of Employment on 26th March 1986, while its programmes were launched nationwide in January 1987.
The NDE later received its legal backing through Decree No. 24 of 1989, now incorporated as CAP 250 of the Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 1999. The law gives the agency its statutory responsibility to design and implement programmes aimed at combating mass unemployment.
The headquarters of the NDE is in Abuja, while its state offices and other structures provide coverage across the country.
What Does the National Directorate of Employment Do?
The National Directorate of Employment has four major statutory mandates.
1. Designing and Implementing Employment Programmes
The NDE designs and implements programmes aimed at combating mass unemployment. These programmes include skills acquisition, entrepreneurship development, employment placement and other interventions targeted at unemployed Nigerians.
2. Developing Labour-Intensive Work Programmes
The agency also develops policies and programmes aimed at promoting work opportunities with labour-intensive potential.
3. Maintaining an Employment and Vacancy Database
The NDE maintains a databank on employment and vacancies. Its job-centre activities are also designed to provide registration, counselling and access to the agency’s employment programmes and schemes.
4. Implementing Other Employment Policies
The agency also implements other policies relating to employment generation as directed by its governing Board and enabling legislation.
Four Core Programmes of the NDE
The National Directorate of Employment operates four major programme departments:
- Vocational Skills Development (VSD)
- Small Scale Enterprises (SSE)
- Rural Employment Promotion (REP)
- Special Public Works (SPW)
These four areas form the main framework through which the NDE carries out its employm
ent and skills-development activities.
1. Vocational Skills Development
Vocational Skills Development focuses on training unemployed Nigerians in practical and marketable skills.
Depending on the programme, participants may receive training in areas such as fashion designing, welding, plumbing, electrical installation, computer operations, repairs, catering, furniture making, digital marketing and other vocational skills.
The NDE also operates apprenticeship and community-based training schemes through which participants can learn practical skills from experienced craftsmen and training centres.
The current NDE programme portal also lists digital skills programmes covering areas such as digital marketing, SEO, content marketing, AI content generation, remote freelancing and other digital skills.
2. Small Scale Enterprises
The Small Scale Enterprises programme focuses on entrepreneurship and business development.
The NDE provides training designed to help unemployed graduates, artisans, women and other participants develop skills that can support self-employment.
One example is the Start Your Own Business (SYOB) programme, which provides entrepreneurship training for unemployed graduates to help them develop sustainable self-employment opportunities. The NDE also lists programmes focused on job and wealth creation for women.
3. Rural Employment Promotion
Rural Employment Promotion focuses on employment and income-generating activities at the grassroots level.
The programmes can support people who want to develop productive activities within their communities, including agricultural and other rural economic activities.
The current NDE programme portal lists schemes covering areas such as livestock production, aquaculture and crop production.
4. Special Public Works
Special Public Works provides employment-related opportunities and training programmes for unemployed Nigerians.
The current NDE programme portal lists initiatives including the Graduate Internship Programme (GIP), Graduate Coaching Scheme, Environmental Beautification Training Scheme, and Solar Energy Training Scheme.
Through these programmes, eligible participants may gain practical experience, develop new skills and improve their chances of securing employment or becoming self-employed.
NDE Skills and Training Opportunities
The current NDE RHEI Phase 3 portal lists a wide range of training opportunities under its four programme areas.
Some of the listed skills and training areas include:
- Digital marketing
- AI-related digital skills
- Content marketing
- SEO
- Remote freelancing
- Data analysis and data science
- Solar installation and maintenance
- Fashion designing
- Catering
- Welding and fabrication
- Plumbing and pipe fitting
- Electrical installation
- Carpentry and furniture making
- Computer operation and repairs
- GSM repairs
- Air-conditioning and refrigeration repairs
- Auto mechanic repairs
- Barbing
- Beauty-related skills
- Agriculture and livestock production
- Aquaculture
- Crop production
- Interior decoration
- Shoe and leather works
- Tie and dye
- Bead making
- Indigenous crafts
The exact programmes, eligibility requirements, locations and available training spaces can vary by programme and state.
NDE Offices and Addresses Across Nigeria
The following are the NDE state office details provided for this article:
StateNDE Office AddressPhone Number
Lagos
No. 7, Barkisu Iyede Street, Onike Yaba, Lagos
08033014555; 08183184445
Oyo
Federal Secretariat Complex, Ikolaba Area, Ibadan
08065310946; 08028218223
Ogun
Federal Secretariat Complex, Oke Omosa, Ibara, Abeokuta
08035660075; 08082428818
Osun
No. 6, Adebimpe Lane, Opp. Plant and Pillars College, Ago-Wande, Osogbo
08056677202; 08098027202
Ekiti
Beside UBA, No. 91 Ajilosun Street, Off Ikere Road, Ado-Ekiti
08060105270
Ondo
Federal Secretariat Complex, Igbatoro Road, Akure
08034171011; 08066554611
Abia
Employment House, Aba Road, Amuzuta, Old Umuahia, P.M.B. 7247, Umuahia
08038777048
Adamawa
Behind former Ministry of Works & Housing, Off Sir Kashim Ibrahim Way, Yola
08020911708
Akwa Ibom
Federal Secretariat Complex, Abak Road, Uyo
08095695077; 07066864747
Anambra
35 Nnamdi Azikwe Avenue, Amawbia, Awka
08035888922; 08184764587
Bauchi
Off Gombe Road, Behind Chief Magistrate Court, Kofar Idi, Bauchi
08038380704
Bayelsa
No. 2, Asingbi Street, Off Imgbi Road, Amarata, Yenagoa
08032756363; 08183334531
Benue
Federal Secretariat Complex, Makurdi
08033153598
Borno
Federal Secretariat Complex, Kano-Jos Road, Maiduguri
08022626357
Cross River
Federal Secretariat Complex, Mohammed Murtala Highway, 3rd Floor, Left Wing, Calabar
08034732083; 08056411518
Delta
Federal Secretariat Complex, Okpanam Road, Asaba
08032360078; 07028304975
Ebonyi
Former Ministry of Women Affairs, Unity Square, Off Ezza Road, GRA, Abakaliki
—
Enugu
CCB Building, 1st Floor, 28 Okpara Avenue, Enugu
08059409960; 08099786443
Edo
222A Upper Mission Road, Before Ewah Road Junction, New Benin, Benin City
08063241240; 08023304530
Gombe
New Federal Secretariat Complex, Behind Bauchi Motor Park, Gombe
08035076677; 08083433766
Imo
Federal Secretariat Complex, Port Harcourt Road, Owerri
08033370393; 08092341187
Jigawa
Federal Secretariat Complex, 2nd Floor, Sani Abacha Road, Dutse
08099370224; 08055282947
Kaduna
No. 5A Yakubu Gowon Way, Kaduna
08035952001; 08023759990
Kano
After ARTV 44/48, Hotoro, Maiduguri Road, Kano
08036827944; 08054605942
Katsina
No. 1 Justice Mohammed Bello Road, GRA Roundabout, Katsina
08033847925; 08153657886
Kebbi
No. 19 Murtala Mohammed Way, Tudun Wada, Birnin Kebbi
08036129284; 08124869880
Kogi
Kunama Crescent, After Edgedrive Hotel, GRA, Lokoja
08036517350
Kwara
Federal Secretariat Annex, Fate Road, Ilorin
08055834677; 07033368086
Nasarawa
No. 18 Jos Road, Behind Natson Petrol Station, Off Sandaji Hotel Road, Lafia
08036367880; 08026362500
Niger
Ladi Kwali Road, Off IBB Road, Minna
08035958975
Plateau
No. 5 Naraguta Road, GRA, Jos
—
Rivers
Federal Secretariat Complex, 8th Floor, Left Wing, Aba Road, Port Harcourt
08039383247; 07017083004
Sokoto
No. 7 Dendo Road, Off Ibrahim Dasuki Road, Sokoto
08036255444; 08088674908
Taraba
No. 2 Agadah Attah Drive, Jalingo
08036837304; 08186207519
Yobe
Federal Secretariat Complex, Gashua Road, Damaturu
07038368112; 08023722366
Zamfara
No. 3 Yahaya Abdullahi Road, Opp. Tanking Ruwa, Sabon Gari, Gusau
07082235403; 08180208078
NDE FCT Office
NDE FCT Office: Abuja Skill Centre Complex, Kuduru, Bwari, Abuja.
The NDE confirms that it has offices across the 36 states and the FCT, although readers should verify specific office details and telephone numbers with the agency before travelling, as contact information can change.
How to Register for NDE Programmes
The NDE has an online platform through which Nigerians can access its employment and skills programmes.
The current NDE Registration Portal provides a pre-enrolment assessment covering eligibility, identity verification, bank details, programme availability, proximity to training centres, age and passport photograph requirements.
Applicants may be required to provide information such as:
- Nigerian citizenship status
- Employment status
- Educational qualification
- Date of birth
- Contact details
- NIN
- Bank account details
- BVN
- State of residence
- Local Government Area
- Preferred programme or training scheme
- Residential address
- Passport photograph
The exact requirements depend on the programme.
Important Update on RHEI Phase 3 Registration
If you are looking for the NDE registration portal for the Renewed Hope Employment Initiative (RHEI) Phase 3, note that the portal currently displays a notice stating that RHEI Phase III registration is closed and that the platform will be opened again when registration resumes.
Therefore, applicants should not pay anyone claiming to offer guaranteed registration or placement. Check the official NDE website and registration portal for the latest announcement before submitting personal information or travelling to an office.
Official NDE Website and Registration Portal
Official NDE website: nde.gov.ng
NDE Registration Portal: nderegistrationportal.ng
NDE email: info@nde.gov.ng
The official NDE website identifies info@nde.gov.ng as its contact email and lists its headquarters at Plot 1529, Nouakchott Street, Zone 1, Wuse District, FCT Abuja.
