NIGERIA: FG Launches Nigeria Jubilee Fellows Programme 2.0 To Create 20,000 Jobs Annually

By Hamzat Ameenat, Lagos, Nigeria

The Federal Government has announced plans to create at least 20,000 jobs annually through the second phase of the Nigeria Jubilee Fellows Programme (NJFP 2.0).

Vice President Kashim Shettima disclosed this ahead of the official launch scheduled for October 22, 2025, in Abuja.

He said the initiative aligns with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda and aims to connect young graduates with real-world experience, mentorship, and entrepreneurship opportunities.

Shettima said: “The initiative is designed to connect young graduates with real work experience, mentorship, and entrepreneurship opportunities.”

He emphasised that the new phase of the programme represents a strategic effort to transform Nigeria’s youthful population into a driver of economic growth.

Speaking further, the Vice President stated: “The Nigeria Jubilee Fellows Programme is a strategic effort to transform Nigeria’s youthful population into a driver of economic growth, emphasising that effective collaboration between government and development partners can yield lasting impact.”

Shettima also inaugurated the Project Steering Committee, charging members “to ensure inclusivity and deliver measurable outcomes that improve the lives of young Nigerians across all regions.”

The Nigeria Jubilee Fellows Programme, implemented in partnership with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and funded by the European Union (EU), was first launched in 2022 to bridge the gap between learning and earning. According to the Vice President, over 14,000 young Nigerians have benefited from its 12-month paid fellowship.

Deputy Chief of Staff to the President, Senator Ibrahim Hassan Hadejia, explained that the redesigned NJFP 2.0 “reflects new economic realities and lessons learned from the first phase.”

He said: “Supported by the EU, the programme will deploy at least 24,000 fellows over the next 10 months through two key pathways: employment via professional placements and entrepreneurship through mentorship and enterprise development.”

Hadejia added that the approach aligns with President Tinubu’s focus on job creation, enterprise growth, and youth empowerment “across priority sectors such as agriculture, digital technology, manufacturing, renewable energy, and the creative industries.”

European Union Ambassador to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Mr Gautier Mignot, and UNDP Resident Representative, Elsie Attafuah, also commended the initiative, describing it as a model for youth empowerment and sustainable job creation.

Attafuah said: “NJFP 2.0 is a testament to what can be achieved through strong government–partner collaboration.”

She added that the programme reflects the partners: “commitment to supporting Nigeria in building an ecosystem that nurtures innovation and sustainable employment.”

The Nigeria Jubilee Fellows Programme 2.0 is expected to further strengthen collaboration between government and development partners, ensuring that young Nigerians are equipped with the skills and opportunities needed to contribute meaningfully to national development.