By Ikugbadi Oluwasegun
The Federal Government of Nigeria is targeting the creation of at least 20,000 jobs annually through the launch of the second phase of the Nigeria Jubilee Fellows Programme (NJFP) aimed at connecting high-potential graduates with real-world work experience, training, and mentorship.
And to spearhead the initiative in line with President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, the Vice President, Kashim Shettima, will on Wednesday, October 22, 2025, in Abuja, flag off the Nigeria Jubilee Fellows Programme (NJFP) 2.0 and declare open a High-Level Policy Dialogue on Job Creation with the theme, “From Skills to Jobs and Enterprises: Driving Youth Employment and Entrepreneurship in Key Economic Sectors.”
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 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).
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, Senator Shettima 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, the VP 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.”
Imploring the committee to work towards tangible outcomes and ensure inclusivity, VP Shettima said, “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. On his part, European Union (EU) 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 optimize 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. She applauded Vice President Shettima for spearheading the initiative, saying what young Nigerians need is investment opportunities and an enabling ecosystem to make use of their skills and expertise.
