The Federal Ministry of Labour and Productivity has a network of 31 Employment Exchanges and 17 Professional and Executive Registries. These Exchanges advertise vacancies for applicants seeking employment . They also provide vocational guidance and counselling for potential secondary school leavers.
The Honourable Minister
Federal Ministry of Employment, Labour and Productivity
Block 4A(2nd floor) Federal SecretariatComplex,
Shehu Shagari Way, Central Area,
P.M.B. 04 ,Garki, Abuja
Tel: +234 9 523 5973, 523 5994, 9 523 5980
The National Directorate of Employment (NDE) was set up as an employment agency.
The NDE has developed four major programmes:
- Vocational Skills Development (VSD),
- Small Scale Enterprises (SSE),
- Rural Employment Promotion (REP)
- Special Public Works (SPW)
The programmes have the following training strategies: Vocational Skills Acquisition, Entrepreneurship/Business training, Rural Employment promotion, Labour-based works, Employment Counselling and Linkages as well as resettlement of trained beneficiaries to set up their own businesses.
Vocational Skills Development programme
This program is carried out by the NDE’s Vocational Skills Development Department and targets unemployed school leavers (graduates and non-graduates). Such school leavers are attached to master craftsmen and women for periods long enough for the apprentice to acquire necessary skills. In the rural areas, where master craftsmen and women are inadequate or non existent, well equipped mobile workshops (schools on wheels) are deployed to train unemployed persons who have no resources to come to town in order to access this program.
Small Scale Enterprises Programmes
The Small Scale Enterprises Programmes is implemented by the Small Scale Enterprises Department and focuses on unemployed graduates of tertiary institutions. The target groups are exposed to entrepreneurship development programmes on how to set up their own business. They are also sent on internship to offices to acquire practical experience and after a successful completion of their course, NDE assists them in obtaining loans from the Nigerian Agricultural, Co-operative and Rural Development Bank (NACRDB) in order to set up their business.
To make contact with you local branch of the SBP programme contact :
Rural Employment Promotion programme
The NDE established the Rural Employment Promotion programme in a bid to awaken the interest of the unemployed youths in agriculture, exploit the tremendous opportunities for employment and wealth creation in the agricultural sector and consequently stem the rural – urban drift of the youths. Through this program beneficiaries are trained on modern agricultural and agro-allied practices.
Special Public Works programme
The Special Public Works programme is managed by the Special Public Works Department and is designed to provide immediate temporary employment for unemployed youths (graduates/non-graduates).The objective is to utilise this valuable manpower resource in carrying out necessary public works using labour intensive techniques, enable the participants obtain short term employment while they acquire new skills and trade experience. Example of public projects executed under this program includes tree planting, construction and maintenance of roads, environmental beautification and sanitation. Graduates are also sent to work temporarily in enterprises collaborating with NDE and sometimes are fortunate enough to become employed as permanent staff. NDE supports the beneficiaries of this program by paying them a specified wages.
To make contact with you local branch of the SPW programme contact :
National Directorate for Employment
No 1 Nouakchott street, Wuse Zone 1
P.M.B. 104, Wuse 1, Abuja
Adecco Nigeria Limited
Employment and Support Agencies
Address: Eleganza Plaza (8th Fl), Plot 634, Adeyemo Alakija Street, Victoria Island, Lagos
Phone: +234 1 7737717,2702926
Website: http://www.adecconigeria.com
Ambfids Recruting Limited
Address: 37A Adeniyi Jones Ikeja Lagos
Phone: +234 1 4704030
People Temp
56B Isaac John Street, GRA Ikeja Lagos.
Phone: +234 1 7911639, 4960569
Website: http://www.peopletemp.net
Kimberly Ryan
4B Louis Solomon Close,
Off Ahmadu Bello Way,
Victoria Island, Lagos
Telephone : 234-01-2629012
Fax : 234-01-2629013
Kimberly Ryan -Abuja Office
37 Kampala Street,Off Kairo Street,
Off Adetokunbo Ademola Street,
Wuse II, Abuja
Website: http://www.kimberly-ryan.net
Minerva Recruitment Limited
Tel : +234 1 461 7265
Fax: +234 1 261 7934
Email : info@minervarecruitment.com
Website: http://www.minervarecruitment.com
NigeriaCV.com
Ikeja, Lagos, Nigeria
Address: 152 Obafemi Awolowo Way,
P.O Box 11405 Ikeja , Lagos Nigeria .
Tel: 01-4933642 .
Email: ncv@nigeriancv.com
Website: http://www.nigeriancv.com
Developing a business idea is a matter of creating a vision, leveraging your strengths and determining what the market needs. These three steps should get you started.
- Create a vision
Close your eyes for a few minutes and conjure up a detailed image of what you want your life to look like in 5 years. Be as specific as possible.
• Where do you live?
• How do you spend your days?
• What kind of work do you do?
• Do you work alone or with other people?
• Who are you surrounded by?
• What do you do when you aren't working?
Don’t limit yourself to these questions; create a vivid vision of yourself, touching on things that are important to you. These are all personal issues that will impact the type of business you pursue - being a city or country person; wanting to travel or sit at your computer; liking to meet people or work on the phone. This activity will help you create a foundation for choosing a business, making business decisions, and setting clear goals.
It is best to do this exercise with someone else and share your vision. If you can’t, write it down to make your vision more concrete.
- Determine what you’re good at and what you like to do
It’s often useful to look inside yourself to figure out what you like and dislike, and where your talents lie. It’s one thing to come up with a winning business idea. It’s another to come up with one that fits your skill set and interests you. Your business has to keep you excited so you can thrive over the long haul.
One of the best ways to do this is to make three separate lists:
List 1: What you’re good at
Everyone is good at something and many skills can be the foundation for a business. You might be naturally organized or have a knack for fixing things. You may be so used to your skills that they don’t immediately come to mind, so assemble this list by observing yourself for a few weeks with an eye out for your aptitudes and by asking people who know you well for their impressions of what you excel at.
List 2: Skills you’ve acquired over the years
Whether or not you’ve worked in a conventional environment, you no doubt have accumulated many. Write down all the work responsibilities you’ve had; think about the varied tasks you know how to complete. Make sure this list is complete -- there should be at least 10 distinct items.
List 3: Things you like to do
- List the things you enjoy doing. This may not be as easy as it sounds. This list should be at least 10 items long. Stretch beyond your hobbies and interests that spring to mind immediately.
When you are contemplating business possibilities, keep in mind that you don’t have to stay in the business you start forever. You can run a business for a few years until you come up with an off-shoot idea or are in a position to start a more capital-intensive business.
- Keep your business antenna up, with an eye out for unfilled opportunities.Research the market by:
o Reading the newspaper and magazines
o Watching television
o Talking to people
o Going to the shopping districts
- What products or services would you want that you haven’t been able to find?
- Is there something that everybody hates to do that you can do for them?
- Is there a product or service that would make life easier for people you know?
- What business trends are happening that you want to participate in?
- Are there gaps in the market that you can fill with your talents? What are they?
Now... Write down some potential business ideas and be specific.
(Source : OPEN: SMall Business Network, 2007)
Any person who wishes to engage in any business in Nigeria is required by law to have it registered with the CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION (CAC).
The Companies and Allied Matters Act, 1990 (the Companies Act) is the principal law regulating the incorporation of businesses. For more information contact the
Corporate Affairs Commission
Plot 565 Dola square
Off Michael okpara way
Wuse Zone 5
P.M.B. 198, Gark Abuja
Tel: +234 9 5241046-50
Financial and administrative support in order to set up a business in Nigeria could be obtained from a number of sources including cooperative societies, Government Agencies, Non Governmental Organisations, Commercial and community banks.
Microfinance and Support Programmes
International Organisation for Migration :
Reintegration Assistance aims to provide you with financial support for employment or training-related activities that will contribute to the sustainable return in your country of origin.
Reintegration assistance shall vary according to the needs of the returnees and the resources and local circumstances available in your home country. Some examples of reintegration assistance include:
- computer training (web design, computer maintenance, introduction to computer use, etc)
- Language classes (beginner ,intermediate, advanced, teaching languages)
- Hairdressing, cosmetics, etc.
- mechanics, painting, carpentry, building, etc.
- farming
- university-level courses
- public education for children
- other options are available.
Reintegration FAQ’s
Who will assist me when I get back to my country?
• In most countries, there is an IOM office that will assist you.
• The IOM office will receive a copy of your reintegration application and will be aware of your needs.
• On the date of your departure from Ireland, you will be given a letter confirming you have applied for reintegration assistance at IOM Dublin. This letter will also contain the contact details of the IOM office in your country. You are expected to contact them shortly after arrival.
Can I change my mind about my reintegration assistance?
• Yes. To change the type of assistance you would like to receive, please notify the IOM office in your country of return or IOM Dublin. We will do our best to accommodate this request.
• You may also choose more than one reintegration activity. This will depend on the total cost involved.
How can Reintegration Assistance benefit local communities?
An important principle of reintegration assistance is that it should contribute towards local capacity building wherever possible. If you do not spend their full reintegration grant, the balance can be invested in the local community, such as providing equipment for schools, for example. In cases where returnees have set up their own businesses these may eventually provide employment within the community, and can contribute positively to the local economy.
LIFT ABOVE POVERTY ORGANIZATION
Lift Above Poverty Organization is a microfinance institution based in Benin City, Edo State.LAPO currently has branches in Edo, Delta, Kogi, Nassarawa, Niger and Lagos States as well as the FCT.
Address: 6, S & T Road Opposite Uselu Market
P.M.B. 1729
Benin City, Edo State, Nigeria
lapobn@yahoo.co.uk
Tel: + 234 52 600 756 Fax: + 234 52 600 072
NACRDB
The Nigerian Agricultural, Co-operative and Rural Development Bank (NACRDB) Limited is dedicated to financing agriculture at both micro and macro levelsThe main objectives of NACRDB is to provide affordable financial and advisory services to the farm and non-farm enterprises of the Nigerian economy using well trained and highly motivated staff, backed by appropriate technology, thereby fostering accelerated agricultural and rural development. Other objectives of NACRDB include:
• Acceptance of savings deposit from customers;
• Provision of opportunities for self employment in the rural areas, thereby reducing rural-urban migration
• Purveyance of affordable credit facilities to the less privileged segment of the Nigerian society who cannot readily access the services of conventional banks;
• Inculcation of banking habits at grass-root level of the Nigerian society, and
• Encouragement of the formation of co-operative societies at all levels.
The key services rendered by NACRDB are as follows:
• Savings Mobilization: Savings is tied to credit in NACRDB operations. The savings serve three important functions:
o Acts as cash collateral
o provides information for lenders
o fosters banking habits among the target population.
• Lending: The entire Bank’s loan is structured as Short Term Loan, Medium Term Loan and Long Term Loan. They are meant to finance specific well-defined purposes\projects that are consistent with the Bank’s mandate.
The Nigerian Agricultural Co-operative and Rural Development Bank (NACRDB) Limited has been adopted for the channelling of funds meant for the development, expansion, growth and production of agricultural products in the Nigerian economy.
Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria(SMEDAN)
was established to promote the development of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) sector of the Nigerian Economy.
The objectives of SMEDAN are to:
• Source, process and disseminate business information.
• Develop policy.
• Establish business support programmes.
• Build capacity and promote services.
• Enhance MSME access to finance.
Access to finance services of SMEDAN includes;
• Assistance to MSMEs to prepare bankable business plans
• Appraisal and recommendation of project proposals from MSMEs to partner-financial institutions
• Collaboration with promoters of specialised (micro) finance schemes for the benefit of MSMEs.
Plot 684, Port Harcourt Crescent,
Area 11 Garki II, Abuja
Tel: + 234 9 3144930- 1, 3144937
E-mail: info@smedan.gov.ng
Website. www.smedan.gov.ng
North South Development
North South Development provides capacity building and micro finance to women and youth entrepreneurs. From its head office in Ibadan, Oyo State, NSD offers a variety of business, technology and skills management training courses and provides micro finance products and services that together contribute to regional and national efforts in achieving the UN Millennium Development Goals. To date, NSD has trained over 2,000 entrepreneurs and operates a loan portfolio of more than N10 million Naira.
Address: 7 Fajuyi Street, Dugbe, Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria
Phone: 2348039174420
Tel: 97236825949 Fax: 97235100686
E-mail: julian@northsouthdev.org
Rural Organization for Development Action
Aims to make a change in the conceptualization, initiation, implementation and monitoring of sustainable programs and projects. The are actively enegaged in the following activities: Micro credit, agriculture & food, women’s status and issues, children and youth.
Address: 13 Joe Akunwata Street,Orofia Abagana Njikoka, Anambra State,Nigeria
Phone: 048-571085
E-mail: organisation96@yahoo.com
Outreach Foundation
Provide Micro credit seminars, workshops and developmental
Address: 3, Thorburn AvenueSabo-Yaba Lagos,
Phone: 545 5266 Fax: 234 1 269 3627
E-mail: opral@21ctl.com
Rural Women Foundation
Activities: Part of our programs and activities include: Organisation of seminars and training Mentoring activities for the girl-child Production of a quarterly newsletter titled “Women Empowerment” Adult literacy programs Micro-credit schemes Market Information Services Health care programs and counselling
Phone: +234-80-33153575, 23 E-mail: info@ruralwf.org
Tel: +234-80-3360 3753 Fax: Email: n.ajuonu@ruralwf.org
Institute of Work and Society
The IWS activities include empowerment in business planning, Advocacy, Networking.
Thier mission statement is to help individuals and NGOs memberships to create enterprises for themselves and jobs for society.
Address: #5 Inim Etok Akpan Lane, P.O. Box 1399, Uyo, A/IBOM
E-mail: iwsworld2000@yahoo.com
Kwali Women and Youth Care Foundation
aims to transform the lives of Kwali women and youths by providing socio-economic opportunities with access to self-employment training through skill acquisition and adult literacy programme.
Activities: Health and adult education, micro-credit and skill acquisition, women in agriculture/ cooperative societies and counselling
KWAYCAF Office, Opposite ECWA Dcc office Kwali Town, Box 4154, Garki, Abuja, F.C.T.
Phone: 09-5231808 E-mail: kwaycaf@yahoo.com
Tel: 234-09-5231808 Fax: 234-09-5231808
Natesther Memorial Foundation, Inc.
Building Capacity of Rural Women and Youth through well-targeted interventions that will open up opportunities for productive living and sustained livelihood
Activities: Micro-credit, basic skills acquisition and training, entrepreneurship, health support and HIV/AIDS awareness, family planning, functional literacy, and information technology
Address: Alimole House Obizi Ezinihitte, P.O. Box 184 Obizi, Imo State234
Phone: +234-8057298891
E-mail: chairman@natesther.org
