President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Tuesday unveiled the Labour, Employment and Empowerment Programme (LEEP), a strategic initiative aimed at creating 2.5 million jobs within two years as part of efforts to curb youth unemployment and reposition Nigeria for the future of work.
Speaking at the official launch in Abuja—represented by Vice President Kashim Shettima—Tinubu declared that Nigeria was prepared to lead in the future of work and meet the evolving demands of a digital and innovation-driven global economy.
LEEP, a flagship programme of the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment, is anchored on six pillars: job portal, digital nomads, vocational and entrepreneurship training, learning centres, a digital academy, and job fairs. The initiative is part of the administration’s “Renewed Hope Agenda” and seeks to empower Nigerian youths with marketable skills and sustainable livelihoods.
“The future belongs to Africa. Nigeria must lead, and this programme signals our commitment to ensure that every Nigerian is equipped to compete globally,” Tinubu said. He appealed to youths to stay back and help develop the country rather than seeking opportunities abroad, saying: “You don’t need to japa to thrive.”
Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr. Muhammad Maigari Dingyadi, described LEEP as a deliberate intervention to address systemic youth unemployment. He blamed joblessness on poor educational alignment with industry needs, tough business conditions, and economic instability.
He stated, “Through this programme, we intend to match skills with market demand and promote entrepreneurship. It’s not just about jobs; it’s about sustainable economic growth and national security.”
Minister of State for Labour, Nkeiruka Onyejeocha, warned that the unemployment crisis was a “clear and present danger,” stressing that LEEP was designed not only to create jobs, but also to collect real-time labour market data and support economic diversification.
Organised labour, represented by NLC President Joe Ajaero and the International Labour Organisation (ILO), commended the initiative but cautioned the government to ensure the jobs created are “decent” and meet the new proposed minimum wage of N70,000.
“This must not become another platform for casual or underpaid employment,” Ajaero said, urging state governments to replicate LEEP across the federation and involve workers in its implementation.
Dr. Vanessa Phala, ILO Country Director, added that LEEP marked “a commitment to transformation” and emphasized the importance of decent wages and fair conditions.
Director-General of the National Directorate of Employment (NDE), Mr. Silas Agara, said all labour-related agencies were fully aligned with the president’s vision, and called for strong partnerships between government, private sector, and international bodies.
“Let today mark the beginning of a more empowered, more resilient Nigerian workforce,” Agara stated.
The launch of LEEP reinforces the administration’s commitment to tackling unemployment through systemic, skill-based, and innovation-driven solutions, positioning Nigeria as a leader in Africa’s labour transformation.
