Nigeria, Oct. 16 -- The Nigerian government has announced the launch of the National Job Centre Project, a nationwide network of employability hubs aimed at connecting trained Nigerians to job opportunities and strengthening the country's labour market infrastructure.

The Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Nkeiruka Onyejeocha, made the announcement at the Mastercard Foundation Annual Nigeria Partner Convening held in Lagos on Wednesday.

Nigeria continues to grapple with rising youth unemployment despite several government interventions.

A recent report estimates that nearly 80 million Nigerian youth are unemployed, with about 1.7 million graduates entering the labour market annually without sufficient opportunities for formal...