UNDP Partners With Nigerian Government To Address Youths Unemployment

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), in collaboration with the Nigerian Government and implementing partners, has convened the inaugural Town Hall Meeting of the Nigeria Jubilee Fellows Programme (NJFP) in Abuja.

An initiative of the Nigerian Government under the Office of the Vice President, the NJFP is funded by the European Union (EU) and implemented by UNDP across Nigeria’s 36 states. The programme, executed through Talent Management Companies (TMC), aims to equip young Nigerians with essential skills to enhance employability, foster public-private partnerships, promote economic growth, and address youth unemployment.

Speaking at a Stakeholders Meeting which provided a platform for conversations on strengthening youth participation in Nigeria’s socio- economic development, youth employability and fostering sustainable development, the Impact and Learning Analyst of UNDP, Chiedu Nwokolo said one of the fundamentals of the fellowship is addressing youth unemployment and online employment for the young persons.

He said; “the NJFP collaborates with host organisations and young people, serving as a bridge to help young individuals integrate into these organisations, gain employable skills, and access mentorship networks over a one-year period.

“It’s about connecting talented Nigerians with opportunities and enhancing the employability of fresh graduates. During the 12-month placements, participants will receive a stipend of 100,000 Naira.”

Nwokolo further highlighted that the fellowship includes a rigorous selection process, partnerships with host organisations, comprehensive training, mentorship, and diverse placement opportunities upon completion.

After completion of their fellowship placement, the Fellows either get to be retained by their respective host organisations or are onboarded into the talent hub to receive an unpaid wraparound support for six months to iterate the vision of the programme.

Dr. Funmilayo Oyefusi, Chief of Party for the Talent Management Company (TMC) North Central under the NJFP, provided insights during the Stakeholders Engagement meeting. She explained that the meeting aimed to foster dialogue between host organisations and fellows, aligning with the programme’s objective of connecting talented individuals with organizations committed to building their capacity and enhancing their employability.

“The Nigerian Government has done well by successfully matching 9,000 young graduates with host organizations,” she noted.

Dr. Oyefusi further highlighted the progress in the North Central region, stating, “From July to December, we registered 257 host organizations and matched 207 credible ones with over 300 fellows in the region.

“We also have a monthly mentorship programme where the fellows’ skills are built on relationship, communication and also ethics in the workplace.” 

One of the host organizations of the NJFP, Tongrick Byanyiko, a Human Resources Practitioner, shared how the programme is offering fresh graduates the opportunity to gain practical knowledge that can help them secure jobs, even if they are not hired by the host organisations.

She said; “We’ve seen individuals who have been very committed, understanding that this one-year opportunity is for them to work and make the most of it.

“As host organisations, we ensure that participants know they must earn this opportunity. If they misuse it, the UNDP has set up a system to remove those not taking the programme seriously, allowing us to create room for those truly committed to this opportunity.”

Patrick Aklo another representative of a host organisation, said that the programme has been very innovative and a game changer, as his firm has found unique and talented individuals.

He said;”when some of them finish, we’ll hire them to continue because they came and we didn’t micromanage most of them. and they hit the ground running.”

“The youths are the future; we have the strength and the manpower, so if more jobs are created we’ll really just be a driving force and we’ll still go back to number one in Africa,” Aklo noted

Shirley Timothy a fellow of the NJFP programme testified that the programme has equipped her with skills to professionally review her CV, learn a whole lot on social media branding and so many things to apply professionally.

 

She said; “This is my second month into it and I’ve been able to learn a lot. I’m sure when I get out of the programme, I’m 100% sure that I’ll get a job. It has been really beneficial to me,”

“I would always advise you to build on your value. So any opportunity you are given to build on your value, take it. The NJFP programme is very nice and I highly recommend it. This is a brilliant opportunity given to the Nigerian youth.”

The Nigeria Jubilee Fellows Programme (NJFP) is a collaborative enterprise between the Federal Government of Nigeria and UNDP, aimed at bridging the gap between talented graduates and job opportunities.

This transformative youth empowerment drive is designed to address youth unemployment by connecting talented graduates with local job opportunities that match their expertise while equipping them with world-class practical knowledge and relevant skills.

By fostering skills development and youth empowerment, the NJFP contributes to Nigeria’s inclusive and sustainable growth.

UNDP is the lead United Nations agency on international development, working in 170 countries and territories to eradicate poverty and reduce inequality through policies development, leadership skills, partnerships and institutional capabilities enhancement to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals.

 

Mercy Chukwudiebere