The Federal Government is set to launch an expanded version of the Nigeria Jubilee Fellows Programme (NJFP), with Vice President Kashim Shettima announcing a target of creating at least 20,000 job opportunities for young graduates annually.
The initiative, known as NJFP 2.0 and scheduled for official launch on October 22nd in Abuja, represents a key component of the administration’s youth empowerment strategy. Shettima emphasized the program’s alignment with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, highlighting its focus on providing “real work experience, mentorship, and entrepreneurship opportunities” to recent graduates.
A Project Steering Committee has been inaugurated to oversee the program’s implementation, with a mandate to ensure broad inclusivity and measurable impact nationwide.
The fellowship program, which operates in partnership with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), with funding from the European Union (EU), previously benefited over 14,000 young Nigerians through its initial 12-month paid fellowship launched in 2022.
According to Deputy Chief of Staff Senator Ibrahim Hassan Hadejia, the redesigned second phase incorporates lessons from the first iteration and will deploy 24,000 fellows over the next ten months through both employment placements and entrepreneurship training. The initiative will focus on key growth sectors including agriculture, digital technology, manufacturing, renewable energy, and creative industries.
International partners have expressed strong support for the expanded program. EU Ambassador to Nigeria and ECOWAS Gautier Mignot and UNDP Resident Representative Elsie Attafuah jointly praised NJFP 2.0 as a transformative approach to youth empowerment and job creation, reaffirming their commitment to supporting Nigeria’s employment and innovation goals.
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