Measuring the Success of the National Directorate of Employment Initiatives in Reducing Unemployment in Abuja, Nigeria

Unemployment remains a significant issue in Nigeria, despite various policy measures aimed at fostering job creation and economic empowerment. This research examines the effectiveness of the National Directorate of Employment's (NDE) initiatives in reducing unemployment in Abuja, Nigeria. A mixed-methods approach was utilised to gather data from 250 beneficiaries of the program through structured surveys and 10 key informant interviews involving NDE officials and community leaders. Descriptive statistics and logistic regression analysis were applied to evaluate employment outcomes, while thematic analysis was used for qualitative data interpretation. The results indicated that NDE programs effectively lowered unemployment rates, boosted self-employment, and raised income levels for participants. The logistic regression findings identified access to credit, educational attainment, and the type of program as significant indicators of employment success. Nonetheless, challenges such as insufficient funding, inadequate monitoring, and poor access to credit facilities hindered long-term viability. The study concludes that although NDE interventions play a role in creating short-term employment, comprehensive reforms are essential for improving their sustainability and scalability. It suggests increasing funding, enhancing monitoring and evaluation processes, providing credit assistance, and ensuring alignment with broader industrial and entrepreneurial policies.