…flags off NJFP 2.0, policy dialogue
The Federal Government says it 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.
This is as Stanley Nkwocha, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Communications, Office of the Vice President, said Kashim Shettima, would 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.”
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).
The program which was launched in 2022 to bridge the gap between skills, jobs, and enterprise, 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, 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.”
He maintained 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.”
The Vice President also urged 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.
“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.
Read also: FG to establish national job centres to tackle unemployment – Minister
“In scaling NJFP 2.0, inclusivity must remain at the heart of our design. Our young people are not a homogenous group; they live in different realities across regions, genders, and social backgrounds. We must ensure that this opportunity reaches every corner of the country — and that placements are tied to the sectors that will shape Nigeria’s future: agriculture, digital technology, renewable energy, manufacturing, and the creative industries.”
Gautier Mignot, the European Union (EU) Ambassador to Nigeria and ECOWAS, 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.
Elsie Attafuah, the UNDP Resident Representative, 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.
Earlier, Ibrahim Hadejia, Deputy Chief of Staff to the President, in his remarks, stated that the flag-off of the NJFP 2.0 on Wednesday, would also declare open the High-Level Policy Dialogue on Job Creation, themed: “From Skills to Jobs and Enterprises: Driving Youth Employment and Entrepreneurship in Key Economic Sectors.”
Speaking during a press conference at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, ahead of the event scheduled to take place at the old banquet hall of the Presidential Villa, Hadejia said the dialogue would bring together Federal and State policymakers, private sector leaders, and development partners to discuss actionable strategies for expanding employment, supporting enterprise growth, and aligning youth skills with national priorities.”
He explained that building on the success of the NJFP, the second phase, NJFP 2.0, had been redesigned to respond to current economic realities and lessons learned from the first phase.
The target, he said, is to “put structures in place to sustain the deployment of at least 20,000 fellows annually”.
