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).
NJFP, a flagship initiative of the FederalGovernment which is being coordinated by the Office of the Vice President, is aimed at connecting high-potential graduates with real-world work experience, training, and mentorship.
The programme is funded by the European Union(EU) and implemented by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).
The Vice President, Senator Kashim Shettima, will on Wednesday, October 22, 2025, in Abuja, flag off the second phase of the programme.
Ahead of the flag-off, the Vice President, on Monday inaugurated the Project Steering Committee of the NJFP 2.0, with acharge to members to make sure the programme is inclusive, ensuring that the opportunity reaches every part of the country.
Launched in 2022 to bridge the gap betweenskills, 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.
The Senior Special Assistant to The Presidenton Media & Communications, Office of The Vice President, Stanley Nkwocha,in a statement disclosed that while 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 Nigerianprogramme, shaped by national priorities and the nation’s sense of purpose, theVP told members of the committee “to deepen that ownership, strengthencoordination across our institutions, and ensure that NJFP remains accountableto 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 interms 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 remainat the heart of our design. Our young people are not a homogenous group; theylive in different realities across regions, genders, and social backgrounds. We must ensure that this opportunity reaches every corner of the country — andthat placements are tied to the sectors that will shape Nigeria’s future:agriculture, digital technology, renewable energy, manufacturing, and thecreative industries.”
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, ElsieAttafuah, 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 workacross Nigeria to build an ecosystem that creates jobs.
She applauded Vice President Shettima for spearheading the initiative, saying what young Nigerians need is investment opportunitiesand an enabling ecosystem to make use of their skills and expertise.
Earlier, Deputy Chief of Staff to thePresident, Senator Ibrahim Hassan Hadejia, said following the flag-off of theNJFP 2.0 on Wednesday, “the Vice President will also declare open theHigh-Level Policy Dialogue on Job Creation, themed: “From Skills to Jobs andEnterprises: Driving Youth Employment and Entrepreneurship in Key EconomicSectors.”
