Nigeria intensifies push for self-employment through ILO programme

The International Labour Organisation (ILO) is ramping up efforts to promote self-employment in Nigeria through a nationwide business training programme for aspiring entrepreneurs.

ILO’s Country Director for Nigeria, Dr Vanessa Phala, said this at the closing ceremony of a two-week training of trainers workshop on Start and Improve Your Business (SIYB) yesterday in Abuja.

The programme was organised by the Federal Ministry of Labour, with support from the ILO and funding from the German Government through GIZ.

Phala said the initiative aims to equip Nigerians with the skills needed to start, sustain and expand businesses while generating employment for others.

She said the training was implemented under the Strengthening Employment and Employability Systems in Nigeria (SESIN) and Action for Improving Labour Migration Governance in Nigeria (ACTION) projects.

“The programme is designed to build a pool of technically proficient, gender-responsive and socially inclusive certified SIYB trainers who can cascade entrepreneurship and business management skills nationwide,” Phala said.

She added that experts from across the country were brought together to standardise training methods and share knowledge.

The ILO boss said participants were trained to help entrepreneurs generate business ideas, manage operations and expand enterprises to create jobs.

“Nigeria is a large country and we need qualified trainers to reach people in every state and community,” she said.

She said that the training focuses on creating decent livelihoods, not just survival, complementing the government’s efforts to reduce nationwide unemployment.

“Our goal is to see trained entrepreneurs successfully managing their businesses and employing others,” she said,

She added that the programme aligns with national development priorities and broader economic empowerment goals.

Deputy Director, Ministry of Labour and Employment, Mr Joseph Akpan, said Nigeria’s labour market could absorb only about 10 percent of school leavers into paid employment.

He said self-employment remains a viable option for many Nigerians and highlighted the importance of trained facilitators in ensuring sustainable business creation.

Focal Person on Migration, Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Mr Eustace James, described the initiative as timely and impactful.

He said trade unions were committed to promoting decent work and protecting workers’ rights, including migrant and women workers and noted that the systemic approach would strengthen labour governance in Nigeria.

Some beneficiaries of the training said the programme enhanced their entrepreneurial skills and provided practical tools to build sustainable businesses.

They pledged to apply the knowledge gained in future ventures for growth and job creation.