The **[Federal Government](https://www.gov.ng)** and the German development agency **[GIZ](https://www.giz.de/en/)** appealed for a stronger connection between skills development programmes and real job opportunities during the Abuja Job and Career Fair 2026, stressing that such alignment is essential for youth employment and for firms to secure qualified staff.
**What were the main commitments announced?**
- The Ministry of Labour and Employment, led by Dr Muhammad Maigari Dingyadi, pledged to broaden access to work through public job centres and the National Electronic Labour Exchange (**NELEX**), a digital portal that matches seekers with employers.
- Dingyadi highlighted that Nigeria’s large youthful population can drive national growth if equipped with market‑relevant skills and meaningful economic pathways.
- He warned that skills mismatches, informal work arrangements and weak links between job seekers and employers must be tackled through coordinated action.
**Key figures and achievements**
- GIZ reported that 11 job centres have been set up in five states under the Skills Development for Youth Programme, with four more slated for launch.
- These centres have already assisted over 65,000 individuals, more than half of whom are women, by offering career counselling, vacancy matching and referrals to training.
- Since 2023, more than 31,000 people have received guidance on regular labour migration, while over 14,000 have been directed to qualification programmes in sectors such as hospitality, ICT, construction, renewable energy and fashion.
- Over 3,600 returning Nigerians have been helped to reassess their livelihood options.
- Jobberman Nigeria disclosed that more than 150,000 candidates secured employment through fairs, career events and job centres in the previous year.
**What did the minister say?**
"If young people acquire the right skills and have access to decent economic opportunities, they can make a substantial contribution to national development," Dr Dingyadi said while opening the fair.
He urged employers to look beyond academic certificates and evaluate candidates on abilities, potential and willingness to learn.
**How are partners supporting the agenda?**
Mrs Oladoyin Olayi, Organisational Development Coordinator at GIZ Nigeria, noted an eight‑year collaboration with the Ministry to strengthen employment services, covering job centres, vocational training, migration advice, business digitalisation and entrepreneurship support.
Olayi also emphasized the continued relevance of physical career fairs. Olamide Adeyeye, Country Head of Programme at Jobberman Nigeria, argued that many youths still encounter barriers to online recruitment due to location, gender, financial constraints and limited digital access. He said face‑to‑face events enable candidates to showcase their capabilities, ask questions and build professional networks.
Adeyeye encouraged participants to engage actively with recruiters, take full advantage of training sessions, and asked employers to recognise talent that may not be evident on a CV alone.
Overall, the fair served as a platform for recruitment, career counselling, networking and skills development, featuring sessions on workplace readiness, entrepreneurship, digitalisation and migration pathways.