The Federal Government has unveiled plans to create at least 20,000 jobs annually through the Nigeria Jubilee Fellows Programme (NJFP) 2.0 an initiative designed to connect high-potential graduates with practical work experience, mentorship, and entrepreneurial training.
Vice President Kashim Shettima will formally launch the NJFP 2.0 and declare open a High-Level Policy Dialogue on Job Creation on Wednesday, October 22, 2025, in Abuja. The event, themed “From Skills to Jobs and Enterprises: Driving Youth Employment and Entrepreneurship in Key Economic Sectors,” aligns with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
Ahead of the launch, the Vice President on Monday inaugurated the NJFP 2.0 Project Steering Committee at the Presidential Villa, urging members to prioritize inclusivity and ensure the programme benefits young Nigerians across all regions.
“The NJFP represents a deliberate attempt to translate the nation’s demographic strength into productive economic power,” Shettima said. “When government provides structure, partnership, and purpose, young Nigerians rise to the occasion.”
He emphasized that the programme bridges the transition gap between learning and earning, particularly for graduates who possess education but lack employment opportunities.
“As we deliberate today, I encourage us to think not in terms of figures alone but in terms of outcomes that matter young people whose lives change because this system works as intended,” the Vice President added.
Shettima stressed that inclusivity must remain central to NJFP 2.0, with placements distributed across critical sectors such as agriculture, digital technology, renewable energy, manufacturing, and the creative industries.
The NJFP, launched in 2022, is coordinated by the Office of the Vice President, implemented by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), and funded by the European Union (EU). The first phase empowered over 14,000 young Nigerians through 12-month paid fellowships, equipping them with professional experience and long-term career opportunities.
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Speaking at the inauguration, EU Ambassador to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Mr. Gautier Mignot, expressed confidence that the NJFP 2.0 would transform the lives of Nigerian youths. He commended the government’s commitment to job creation and urged continuous collaboration for maximum impact.
Similarly, UNDP Resident Representative, Elsie Attafuah, hailed the NJFP as part of a broader continental vision to tackle youth unemployment. “What young Nigerians need are opportunities and an enabling ecosystem to deploy their skills,” she noted, pledging UNDP’s sustained partnership.
Deputy Chief of Staff to the President, Senator Ibrahim Hassan Hadejia, explained that NJFP 2.0 has been redesigned to reflect lessons learned from its first phase and current economic realities.
“The target is to sustain the deployment of at least 20,000 fellows annually,” he said, adding that the new phase will place a minimum of 24,000 fellows over the next 10 months with EU funding.
Hadejia further disclosed that NJFP 2.0 offers two clear pathways one toward employment through extended professional placements and another toward entrepreneurship through mentorship and enterprise support.
He emphasized that the initiative reflects President Tinubu’s commitment to translating policy into impact. “Under the Renewed Hope Agenda, NJFP 2.0 is a bold response to the aspirations of young Nigerians turning skills into jobs, ideas into enterprises, and hope into results,” he said.