The National Directorate of Employment on Thursday launched the second phase of the Renewed Hope Employment Initiative, with a target to train 41,307 Nigerians across the country, as Gombe contributes no fewer than 1,103.

Our correspondent reports the training includes vocational, entrepreneurial, agricultural, ICT and public works skills.

Speaking at the flag-off ceremony in Gombe, the Director-General of the NDE, Silas Agara, said the initiative aligns with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which prioritises economic growth, job creation and poverty reduction.

“It is my pleasure to welcome you to the commencement of the second phase of the Renewed Hope Employment Initiative, with a target to train 41,307 Nigerians across the country, out of which Gombe State has 1,103 beneficiaries,” Agara said.

Represented by the State Coordinator Mawa Lamu, the DG added, “In 2024, the Directorate made strides in fulfilling its mandate of employment generation in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda of the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR.”

The first phase of the programme, which was launched nationwide on December 6, 2024, trained 32,692 unemployed Nigerians in different skills across the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory. According to Agara, the beneficiaries acquired vocational and ICT competencies, while others benefited from agricultural and small-scale enterprise support.

He added, “A total of 5,532 beneficiaries were resettled with loans and starter packs, while others were linked to credit-granting institutions under our soft loan scheme.”

Building on those successes, Agara disclosed that the NDE had improved its processes for the second phase. “We have digitised our registration portal with scalable backends and geofenced capabilities. This has made our processes more transparent, fair and equitable, while providing us with a credible database,” he explained.

To ensure inclusivity, a minimum of four trainees were selected from each of the 8,809 electoral wards in Nigeria, bringing representation from all 36 states and the FCT.

“Furthermore, a total of 14,457 beneficiaries will be resettled with starter packs to help them establish themselves in their chosen fields. At the end of the second phase of RHEI 2, participants will be equipped with skills to enhance employability, foster entrepreneurship, improve livelihoods and contribute to national economic growth.”

Agara admitted that the NDE continues to face challenges of limited budgetary resources but stressed that the Directorate remains committed to equipping unemployed Nigerians with demand-driven skills.

“Despite the challenges, our goal remains to empower individuals to become employers of labour and wealth creators in the near future,” he noted.

Congratulating the new trainees, Agara encouraged them to take full advantage of the opportunity. “You made it through a rigorous and thorough registration process that speaks to your potential,” he said. “I urge you to make the best use of this opportunity to better your lives, your communities and the nation at large.”

He then formally declared the programme open, adding, “It is my singular honour and privilege to flag off the training component of the Second Phase of the Renewed Hope Employment Initiative.”

Master trainer, Haruna Ahmed, urged them to change the narrative by giving their best, adding, “Do not sell the starter packs given to you. Instead, use them to create wealth.”

Director Education Resource Centre, Gombe, Kabir Mahdi, urged the participants to utilise the opportunity well, stressing, “If you apply what you learnt, you will become better for it, you will not remain the same.”

One of the beneficiaries, Jabir Dahiru, lauded NDE for the opportunity, saying, “I’m grateful to NDE for the opportunity. We will maximise the benefits of the training.”

It was earlier reported that the NDE had opened online registration for Phase Two of the Renewed Hope Employment Initiative, aimed at tackling unemployment and equipping Nigerians with vocational and digital skills.

Director-General of the NDE, Mr Silas Agara, announced the launch of the registration portal and the supporting digital infrastructure in Abuja.

“After the success of Phase One, we have enhanced our infrastructure to make Phase Two fully digital.

“We have deployed robust hardware, software, and internet connectivity to all 37 states, including the FCT, to ensure seamless operations,” Agara said.

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The United Arab Emirates has renewed its call for peace in the Middle East, insisting that a two-state solution remains the most realistic way to resolve the Israeli–Palestinian conflict.

The Assistant Minister for Political Affairs and Envoy of the UAE Minister of Foreign Affairs, Lana Nusseibeh, made this known in a statement on Thursday, reflecting on the significance of the 2020 Abraham Accords signed under US President Donald Trump.

She explained that the agreements were “anchored in a vision of peace built on prosperity, coexistence, and tolerance.”

According to her, the accords were never meant to sideline the Palestinian struggle but rather to strengthen efforts towards an independent Palestinian state.

She recalled that at the time of the signing, the UAE’s Foreign Minister, Sheikh Abdullah Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, had commended Israel’s decision to suspend its planned annexation of parts of the West Bank, describing the move as “a step towards a better Middle East and a shared will to achieve a brighter future for generations.”

Nusseibeh, however, warned that any fresh push to annex West Bank territory would go against the spirit of the agreement and threaten regional stability.

She described annexation as a “red line” for the UAE and urged the Israeli government to step back from such plans.

“The path to peace requires courage, persistence, and a refusal to allow extremism or violence to dictate the future of the region,” she noted.

She stressed that ending the war in Gaza, freeing hostages, and preventing Hamas from retaining control of the territory were the first steps to de-escalation.

She further said efforts should focus on restoring order in Gaza, reforming Palestinian governance, and reuniting Gaza with the West Bank.

Reaffirming its stance, the UAE said it remained committed to a peaceful solution that guarantees Israel and Palestine coexist “side by side in peace, security, and prosperity.”

PUNCH Online reports that since the signing of the Abraham Accords in 2020, the United Arab Emirates has emerged as a pioneering Arab nation in normalising ties with Israel — the first Gulf state to do so.

The agreement was forged on the condition that Israel suspend plans to annex parts of the West Bank, thereby preserving the potential for a two-state resolution to the Israeli–Palestinian conflict

Over the years, the Accords have facilitated unprecedented economic and diplomatic cooperation between the UAE and Israel, spanning technology, cybersecurity, tourism, healthcare, and trade

However, this progress now faces jeopardy. UAE officials have issued stern warnings that any renewed attempts by Israel to annex West Bank territory would cross a “red line” and threaten the Accords’ very foundation, potentially undoing years of careful regional integration and peace-building efforts.

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The National Emergency Management Agency has confirmed that 30 people lost their lives in the tragic boat accident that occurred in the Gausawa community, Borgu Local Government Area of Niger State.

The agency added that 58 passengers were rescued from the incident, while one more body was recovered.

The accident, which happened on September 2, 2025, involved a boat carrying about 90 passengers along a water channel in Gausawa.

The Head of Press Unit at NEMA, Manzo Ezekiel, disclosed this in a press statement on Thursday.

Boat accidents remain a recurring tragedy in Nigeria, especially in communities where water transport is a major means of movement. Many of these mishaps are linked to overloading, poor enforcement of safety regulations, use of rickety vessels, and inadequate life-saving equipment.

In Niger State and other parts of the country, such incidents have claimed hundreds of lives in recent years, highlighting the urgent need for stricter safety standards, improved monitoring of waterways, and community awareness on safe boating practices.

Providing an update on the tragedy, the statement noted that the Director General of NEMA, Mrs. Zubaida Umar, has directed the agency’s Minna Operations Office to intensify ongoing search and rescue operations.

“Witnesses at the scene of the incident revealed that about 90 persons were onboard the ill-fated vessel. So far, 58 passengers have been rescued, while over 30 lives have been lost as one additional body was recovered this afternoon. Several other passengers remain unaccounted for, with search and rescue efforts still ongoing.

“Initial investigations indicate that the mishap was caused by overloading of the vessel, compounded by a collision with a tree stump along the water channel.

“The Niger State Emergency Management Agency is leading the rescue operation alongside other stakeholders, including the National Inland Waterways Authority, the Hydroelectric Power Producing Areas Development Commission, the Nigerian Red Cross Society, local divers, and community volunteers,” the agency said.

It added that NEMA is coordinating closely with the stakeholders to ensure a sustained and organized response.

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