FG, EU, UNDP Launch $220m Nigerian Youth Employment Initiative

The Nigerian government, in partnership with the European Union and United Nations Development Programme, has launched a $220m initiative to boost employment opportunities for young graduates across the country.

Vice President Kashim Shettima inaugurated the Nigeria Jubilee Fellows Programme (NJFP) 2.0 at the Presidential Villa on Wednesday.

He described it as an effort “to bridge the transition gap between learning and earning for thousands of young Nigerians, graduates who have the education but not always the opportunity.”

The programme, which is the second phase of the NJFP, seeks to connect high-potential graduates with real-world work experience, training, and mentorship.

The vice president announced that while the programme is backed by EU and UNDP support, the Tinubu administration is committed to deepening national ownership by embedding it into the government’s national planning and budgeting frameworks.

“This government will do its part by ensuring that our financial commitment to the programme reflects our belief in its transformative potential. But national ownership must also mean national participation,” Shettima said.

The Vice President called on partners from the private sector, development community, and donor ecosystem to contribute to the NJFP Basket Fund, a sustainable financing mechanism designed to secure the programme’s future.

“Our immediate goal is to raise $220 million, not as charity, but as an investment in the nation’s most valuable asset: our young people,” he stated.

Shettima urged stakeholders to view the programme’s launch as proof that “youth employment is not just a policy priority but a shared responsibility.”

The NJFP 2.0 promises to prioritise inclusivity and reach young people across different regions, genders, and social backgrounds.

Placements will align with key economic sectors, including agriculture, renewable energy, digital technology, manufacturing, and the creative industries.

“As we scale NJFP 2.0, inclusivity remains at the heart of our design. We recognise that our young people are not a single story. They live in different realities, across regions, genders, and social backgrounds,” the vice president said.

He added: “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.”

Meanwhile, the Minister of Youth Development, Ayodele Olawande, said the initiative will place 100,000 youths in jobs within five years.

Olawande said since the programme began in 2021, it has helped over 13,000 youths gain skills and work experience.

The UNDP Resident Representative in Nigeria, Elsie Attafuah, said the programme has resulted in over 40,000 Nigerians being placed in various economic sectors. She stressed that millions of Nigerians need the NJFP platform to thrive in today’s economy.

European Union Ambassador to Nigeria, Gauthier Mignot, expressed the EU’s desire to see the programme integrated into Nigeria’s governance agenda to ensure its sustainability.

In his keynote address titled “Building a National Workforce for the Future”, Sterling Bank CEO Abubakar Suleiman said millions of Nigerians can perform jobs currently being outsourced to foreign companies if given the right opportunities.

He urged authorities and stakeholders not to ignore the millions of Nigerians who, without support, may never transition from graduates to gainful employment.