NIGERIA: 39 Nigerian Artisans Travel To Belarus For Jobs Under NDE Scheme

By Ameenat Hamzat, Lagos, Nigeria 

Thirty-nine skilled Nigerian artisans have departed for the Republic of Belarus under the National Directorate of Employment’s (NDE) International Job Placement Programme, a federal government initiative aimed at promoting safe, legal, and gainful overseas employment for Nigerian workers.

The beneficiaries, all from Benue State, are to take up positions in Belarus’s construction sector as part of the government’s renewed efforts to create decent jobs and curb irregular migration among the youth.

Speaking at a pre-departure briefing in Abuja on Monday, the Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Dr. Nkiruka Onyejeocha, described the initiative as a testament to the global competitiveness of Nigerian talent and the value of strategic collaboration between government and the private sector.

She explained that the programme is a joint effort between the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment, Benue State Government, the NDE, the Benue State Bureau of Entrepreneurship and Wealth Creation, and Enhanced Entrepreneurs Belarus Nig. Co. Ltd.

Onyejeocha stated: “As a Ministry, our mission under the Renewed Hope Agenda is clear: to ensure every Nigerian can access decent, safe, and sustainable work. The International Job Placement Programme embodies that vision, proving that Nigerian talent is not only capable but globally competitive.”

She urged the departing artisans to uphold professionalism, integrity, and excellence in their conduct, adding that their success abroad should contribute to national development.

“By engaging globally, we exchange innovation and standards that uplift our workforce and position Nigeria as a trusted player in the global labour economy,” she added.

The Director-General of the NDE, Silas Agara, applauded the Benue State Government for its support and confidence in the agency’s employment facilitation initiatives. He emphasized that the programme is designed to eliminate the dangers associated with irregular migration and illegal job-seeking abroad.

Agara noted: “We are declaring here today that young Nigerians no longer need to risk their lives crossing the Sahara or drowning in the Mediterranean Sea to reach Europe. All they need are skills, competence, and government support to access legitimate job opportunities abroad.”

He explained that the NDE’s collaboration with Enhanced Entrepreneurs Belarus Nig. Co. Ltd. began in 2019, and has since provided skilled Nigerian artisans with access to employment in Belarus’s growing construction industry.

According to Agara, the programme not only provides decent work but also creates a channel for skills and technology transfer, as participants are expected to return with improved expertise that can strengthen Nigeria’s construction and vocational sectors.

He buttressed: “Beyond the immediate advantage of decent jobs, this programme offers Nigeria an open door to the transfer of skills and technology. The participants will be exposed to world-class construction standards which they can eventually bring back home.”

He urged the artisans to conduct themselves as worthy ambassadors of Benue State and Nigeria, stressing that their performance would determine the sustainability and expansion of the initiative.

“I cannot overemphasize the need for them to show themselves as worthy ambassadors in the diligent discharge of their duties and general conduct in Belarus,” Agara added.

The International Job Placement Programme is part of the federal government’s broader employment generation strategy, aligned with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which seeks to reduce unemployment, expand skills acquisition, and promote global labour competitiveness among Nigerian youths.