October 21, (THEWILL) — The Federal Government will, on Wednesday, October 22, flag-off the second phase of the Nigeria Jubilee Fellows Programme (NJFP 2.0), targeting the creation of at least 20,000 jobs annually.
The initiative, spearhead by Vice President Kashim Shettima, is aimed at connecting high-potential graduates with real-world work experience, training, and mentorship.
Ahead of the flag-off, the Vice President, on Monday, inaugurated the Project Steering Committee of the NJFP 2.0, with a charge to members to make sure the programme is inclusive, ensuring that the opportunity reaches every part of the country.
The NJFP, a flagship initiative of the 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).
Launched in 2022 to bridge the gap between skills, jobs, and enterprise, the programme has already empowered over 14,000 young Nigerians through the 12-month paid fellowships that build experience, confidence, and lasting career opportunities.
Inaugurating the Project Steering Committee, the Vice President noted that the goal of the NJFP is to bridge the transition gap between learning and earning for thousands of young graduates with the required education but no job opportunity.
The programme, he said, represents “a deliberate attempt to translate the nation’s demographic strength into productive economic power, demonstrating that when government provides structure, partnership, and purpose, young Nigerians rise to the occasion.”
Maintaining that the NJFP is a Nigerian programme, shaped by national priorities and the nation’s sense of purpose, Shettima told members of the committee “to deepen that ownership, strengthen coordination across our institutions, and ensure that NJFP remains accountable to the ambitions of this administration.”
He charged the committee to work towards tangible outcomes and ensure inclusivity.
“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. 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”, VP Shettima said.
European Union’s Ambassador to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Mr Gautier Mignot, expressed confidence that the programme would transform the lives of young Nigerians, saying the support of the Nigerian government will optimise the full mandate of the NJFP 2.0.
Also, the UNDP Resident Representative, Elsie Attafuah, described the NJFP 2.0 as a part of a larger national and continental vision, which the UNDP is proud to support, noting that the target is to work across Nigeria to build an ecosystem that creates jobs.
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