The Federal Government of Nigeria plans to create at least 20,000 jobs yearly through the launch of the second phase of the Nigeria Jubilee Fellows Programme (NJFP). The NJFP, a flagship programme of the Federal Government being coordinated by the Office of the Vice-President, is implemented by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and funded by the European Union (EU).
The initiative is meant to connect high-potential graduates with real-world work experience, training, and mentorship in line with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
Speaking while inaugurating the Project Steering Committee of the NJFP 2.0 on Monday in Abuja, Vice-President Kashim Shettima appealed to the members to ensure the programme is inclusive, stating that the opportunity should reach every part of the country.
According to him, the goal of the NJFP is to bridge the transition gap between learning and earning for thousands of young jobless graduates with the required education.
He said that the programme is “a deliberate attempt to translate the nation’s demographic strength into productive economic power.”
“As we deliberate today, I encourage us to think not in terms of targets or figures alone, but in terms of outcomes that matter: young people whose lives change because this system works as intended.
We have an opportunity here to demonstrate what partnership done right can achieve: where government leads with clarity, partners contribute with confidence, and results speak for themselves,” he said.
He further noted that members of the committee must “deepen that ownership, strengthen coordination across our institutions, and ensure that NJFP remains accountable to the ambitions of this administration.”
Shettima concluded by imploring the committee to work towards guaranteeing tangible outcomes in the near future.
“Therefore, let us approach our work with that understanding. In scaling NJFP 2.0, inclusivity must remain at the heart of our design.
Our young people are not a homogenous group; they live in different realities across regions, genders, and social backgrounds.
We must ensure that this opportunity reaches every corner of the country—and that placements are tied to the sectors that will shape Nigeria’s future: agriculture, digital technology, renewable energy, manufacturing, and the creative industries,” he added.
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