Family Homes Funds Limited (FHFL) has successfully graduated 572 artisans under its Skills Acquisition Programme, with 72 Abuja-based beneficiaries securing automatic employment through the Renewed Hope City housing project.
The Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of FHFL, represented by the Executive Director, Operations, Dr. Emeka Henry, disclosed this on Wednesday during the graduation ceremony of the Abuja Stream 1 Artisans Programme held in Karsana, Abuja. He commended the Federal Ministry of Finance, particularly the International Economic Relations Department (IERD), for its support, guidance, and collaboration throughout the implementation of the programme. He also expressed appreciation to the African Development Bank for its contribution towards tackling unemployment and addressing the shortage of skilled manpower within Nigeria’s construction sector.
Dr. Henry explained that prior to the Abuja graduation, over 500 artisans had earlier been trained in Katsina under the pilot phase of the initiative, with many already securing employment opportunities through partnerships with developers and construction firms. According to him, the programme aims to train over 2,000 artisans nationwide before the end of the year.
He noted that one of the distinguishing features of the initiative was its strong emphasis on practical learning, as trainees were exposed to rigorous hands-on and on-site sessions at the Renewed Hope City, Karsana project site and other construction locations. The practical exposure, he said, significantly enhanced the participants’ technical competence and industry readiness. Beneficiaries also received monthly stipends, starter toolkits, and nationally recognised certifications to support their transition into employment and entrepreneurship.
Speaking at the event, a representative of Renewed Hope City, Mr. Etu Matthew, revealed that all 72 artisans trained and graduated in Abuja had been offered automatic employment by the housing project. According to him, the graduands demonstrated professional competence and are well-positioned to contribute meaningfully to Nigeria’s construction industry.
