The federal government has announced plans to invest $220 million in creating job opportunities for young Nigerians through the second phase of the Nigeria Jubilee Fellows Programme (NJFP) 2.0.
Vice President Kashim Shettima, who formally launched the programme on Wednesday at the Presidential Villa in Abuja, said the initiative aims to bridge “the transition gap between learning and earning” for thousands of graduates.
The NJFP 2.0, implemented in partnership with the European Union (EU) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), will connect high-potential graduates with work experience, training, and mentorship opportunities.
“This initiative will translate our demographic strength into productive economic power, proving that when government provides structure, partnership, and purpose, young Nigerians rise to the occasion,” Shettima said.
He added that the Tinubu administration intends to embed the programme into the national planning and budgeting framework to ensure sustainability.
“As we launch NJFP 2.0 today, I call on our partners; from the private sector, the development community, and the donor ecosystem, to join us in building the NJFP Basket Fund, a sustainable financing mechanism to secure the programme’s future,
“Our immediate goal is to raise $220 million, not as charity, but as an investment in our most valuable asset — our young people.” he said.
The vice president urged the EU, UNDP, and other partners to view the launch as a shared responsibility in tackling youth unemployment. “We are moving from the defensive to the offensive in the fight against joblessness, a fight that will allow us to regain peace, stability, and trust,” he added.
Shettima emphasized that inclusivity would guide the programme’s expansion, noting that NJFP 2.0 will reach every region of the country and focus on key sectors such as agriculture, renewable energy, digital technology, manufacturing, and the creative industries.
“The young Nigerians we seek to serve are not asking for handouts — only for a fair system that recognises effort, rewards merit, and provides opportunity. They are ready to build if we are ready to back them,” he said.
Minister of Youth Development, Ayodele Olawande, said over 13,000 youths have benefited from the programme since its inception in 2021, and the next phase aims to place 100,000 young Nigerians in jobs within five years.
UNDP Resident Representative in Nigeria, Elsie Attafuah, said the NJFP had already connected more than 40,000 Nigerians to opportunities across various sectors. “Millions of Nigerians need the NJFP platform to thrive in today’s economy,” she said.
EU Ambassador to Nigeria, Gauthier Mignot, said the EU looked forward to seeing the programme integrated into Nigeria’s governance agenda to guarantee long-term sustainability.
In his keynote address, Sterling Bank CEO Abubakar Suleiman said many Nigerians could perform the jobs currently outsourced abroad if given the right support. “We must not ignore the millions of Nigerians who, without intervention, may never transition from graduates to gainful employment,” he said.