Vice President Kashim Shettima has inaugurated the Steering Committee of the Nigeria Jubilee Fellows Programme (NJFP), as part of measures by the Nigerian Government to scale up its employment initiative and enhance the employability of fresh graduates with market-ready skills and competence.
NJFP, a Nigerian government initiative being implemented by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) with a seed investment from the European Union (EU), is coordinated by the office of the Vice President.
It was established to address challenges confronting Nigerian graduates in accessing meaningful jobs, as well as develop, test and deploy a scalable model that would effectively assist in tackling the root causes of growing unemployment and underemployment in Nigeria.
Speaking on Monday while inaugurating the Steering Committee at the Presidential Villa, Vice President Shettima described the programme as a decisive step by the administration of President Bola Tinubu toward equipping Nigerian youth with the required tools to become employees, innovators and leaders in their chosen careers.
He stated: “The Nigeria Jubilee Fellows Programme is more than just an employment initiative—it is a catalyst for broader engagement in youth-driven innovation, employability, and entrepreneurship. Programmes like this are a decisive step toward equipping our youth with the tools to become not just employees but also innovators and leaders in their respective fields.
“The NJFP has made commendable progress, and it is now time to build on that foundation to provide a wider coverage through innovative adaptations that ensure that this programme does not just provide job placements but also emphasizes the development of key skills through practical, real-world applications.
“This is how we scale impact—by embedding long-lasting, transformative learning experiences into the programme structure.”
Serious Challenge
Acknowledging that youth unemployment has remained a serious challenge in Nigeria, VP Shettima implored stakeholders and development partners to act cooperatively to combat the menace before it destabilises the nation’s future.
VP Shettima explained that his office directly coordinates the NJFP and some other crucial federal government initiatives, including Human Capital Development (HCD) programme, Investment in Digital and Creative Enterprises (iDICE) and the Expanded MSME Clinics programmes, because they are priorities for the Tinubu administration.
Earlier in her remarks, the UNDP Resident Representative in Nigeria, Ms. Elsie Attafuah, commended the Nigerian government for its “unwavering leadership and commitment to advancing Nigerian human capital development, particularly youth development as part of the Renewed Hope Agenda.”
While thanking the European Union for supporting the programme to the tune of 44 million Euros, Ms. Elsie said the NJFP seeks to champion home-grown talent, connecting young Nigerians with local opportunities through twelve months of placement where they apply their expertise to gain market-ready skills.
On his part, the European Union Head of Cooperation, Mr. Massino de Luca, said the Nigeria Jubilee Fellows Programme is a flagship that generates pride and excitement, not only here in their Abuja office but also in the EU Headquarters.
He maintained that youth involvement and focus remain the ace of the EU’s action in Nigeria, even as he said NJFP typifies the EU’s commitment to the youth agenda in Nigeria and the world.
Shedding light on the impact of the programme the Minister of Youth Development, Dr. Jamila Bio Ibrahim, said the NJFP is an initiative that aligns with the ministry’s initiative called the work-experience-program where graduates are fixed into jobs and there is an opportunity to upscale and improve it with the NJFP programme.
She said her Ministry has the agenda to create 10 million jobs by 2027, adding that as a ministry they cannot achieve that alone.
Also speaking, the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr. Doris Uzoka-Anite, said a total of 3,100 youths have been trained, far below the estimated target, attributing it to several reasons, including COVID-19 and the transition process of the immediate past administration.
“But seeing what the head of UNDP has brought in and the commitment of the EU, I am quite optimistic that we’ll do much more,” she added.
Dominica Nwabufo
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