The Edo State Skills Development agency was established by the Edo State Government to ameliorate the rate of youth unemployment through skills development and job creation, which will in turn improve the lives of the residents of Edo State. Having commenced in March 2017 as a program under the office of the Governor, it was initially known and referred to as Skill Development Program now Edojobs. It kick started its activities with a state wide registration of over 100,000 unemployed persons. With the initial target to create 200,000 jobs, which it has since surpassed, the agency has impacted positively in the skills level and economic wellbeing of residents as well as the State.
Edo State Skills Development Agency is made up of several departments. The Skills Development and Entrepreneurship Unit (provides Edolites with Skills and Entrepreneurship opportunities and supporting them with workspace, Starter packs, access to funding, access to Market, Start-up kits, tools and publicity for their goods and services). Job Placement and Recruitment Unit (responsible for improving access to carrier advancement opportunities by engaging with employers and matching qualified Edo residents with existing job openings as well as internship and apprenticeship programs), Edo Innovate (a cluster of innovation hubs and ICT academies for inventors, innovators, and entrepreneur leverages on the use of ICT for job creation, Skills development and supporting start-ups with campuses in Irua, Ekpoma, Auchi and Benin City.) Edo Food and Agri-Cluster (Edo-FAC) Focuses on improving the lives of Edo Farmers by providing aggregation services, training, access to funding, processing facilities and business opportunities for small scale farmers in rural communities in the state. Edo Production Center (geared towards encouraging industrial development in the state through empowering Micro, Small and Medium scale enterprise). Edo Creative Hub (charged with a drive to portray Edo State as a leading source of skilled talent in film, TV and entertainment industry). And Edo Helpline (established as a quick response unit for emergency situation in the state and also responsible for keeping residents abreast with relevant information on the Covid-19 pandemic). While these departments operate individually, our end goal remains to improve the employment status of Edo State by collaborating with various private and public sector within and abroad.