No fewer than 39 skilled artisans have been deployed from Benue State to Belarus under the international job placements programme aimed at creating decent employment opportunities for Nigerians abroad.
The initiative which is the first of its kind, was borne from collaboration between the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment, the Benue State Government, the National Directorate of Employment, the Benue State Bureau of Entrepreneurship & Wealth Creation, and Enhanced Entrepreneurs Belarus Nig. Co. Ltd (EBNC).
Speaking during the send-off ceremony in Abuja, the Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Nkeiruka Onyejeocha, said the initiative aligns with the government’s commitment to reducing unemployment and promoting safe, orderly labour migration.
Onyejeocha noted that for Nigeria to stay ahead of the world of work which was changing rapidly, it must deepen international partnerships that promotes knowledge transfer, technology exchange, and exposure to best practices.
She said: “This ceremony is more than a send-off it affirms our shared resolve to build a labour ecosystem that allows Nigerians not just to work, but to excel wherever opportunities arise.
“Today, we honour thirty-nine talented artisans from Benue State who will soon begin their professional journey in Belarus. Their success reflects what can be achieved when vision meets coordination and when partnerships deliver real opportunity.
“Programmes like this equip Nigerian professionals with global insights that strengthen our domestic capacity and competitiveness. By engaging globally, we exchange innovation and standards that uplift our workforce and position Nigeria as a trusted player in the global labour economy.”
The minister who charged the artisans, to ensure they Honour your contracts, respect their hosts, carry the pride of Nigeria, added that, “let your professionalism and integrity speak loudly and let your excellence tell the Nigerian story of resilience and skill. Remember, success abroad must translate into growth at home.”
Director-General, National Directorate of Employment (NDE), Silas Agara, explained that the programme which began in 2019, had opened opportunities for artisans in Belarus’ construction sector, fulfilling a core mandate of the agency to link skilled Nigerians to decent jobs.
“Beyond decent jobs, this programme offers smooth transfer of technology and skills which participants will eventually bring back to Nigeria.
Agara who commended the Governor of Benue State, Rev. Fr. Hyacinth. Alia for promptly sponsoring 39 artisans from Benue, noted that the initiative could discourage irregular migration saying, “We are collectively declaring that young Nigerians no longer need to risk the Sahara Desert or the Mediterranean Sea to reach Europe. All they need now are skills.”
Agara urged the artisans to abide by their contractual obligations and serve as worthy ambassadors of Benue and Nigeria. “It is my prayer that these ambassadors will not only succeed in Belarus but also become change agents for the Renewed Hope Agenda,”
The CEO Enhanced Entrepreneurs Belarus Nig. Co. Ltd (EBNC), Mr. Charles Adzo, disclosed that each artisan would be remitting a token of N300,000 monthly to support their families back home and an undisclosed amount to a revolving account, ensuring that the benefits of the programme extends to their dependents and other indigenes of the State.
Adzo further noted the initiative was the beginning of greater opportunities, as the artisans would not only be contributing immensely towards the growth of the Belarusian economy, but also towards the growth of the Nigerian economy as well.
“The beneficiaries have agreed unanimously to contribute a certain amount of their wages every month towards their families, and also towards a revolving account that will be set up by the Benue State Government, so that other Benue indigenes will also benefit in the future.
“I want to hail you for this act you have taken, not forgetting where you’re coming from, contributing towards the development of the state, and also your individual families. Beneficiaries will be contributing about 300,000 Naira every month towards their families.
“That will go greatly to the development of that local economy wherever they are because N300,000 is no small amount of money, and they will be contributing slightly more than that as well towards that revolving account that will be set up by the state government, and I want to believe that the office of the DG Work Creation will be managing that particular account.”